
Class t 

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j:p\iti?4A wjilkitsson. 



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MEMOIR 



OF 



JEMIMA WILKINSON, 



A PREACHERESS OF THE EIGHTEENTH 
CENTURY ; 

CONTAINING AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OFHBB 

LIFE AND CHARACTER, 

AND OF THE 



RISE, PROGRESS AND CONCLUSION OF 
HER MINISTRY. 

" Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.* 

Matt, ru, 20. 

— — 

BATH, N. Y. 

I'UBLISHED BY R. L. UNDERBILL & CO* 
RICHARDSON &. DOW, PRINTER*. 

1844, 



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PREFACE 



In presenting the public with this History, the author 
begs leave to remark, that no pains or diligence, nor rea- 
sonable expense, has been spared in obtaining correct 
information; and although he had been personally ac- 
quainted with Jem «na for many years previous to her 
death, and knew much of her history, yet he has not 
here stated any acts or circumstances in relation to her 
character or conduct, without the authority of persona 
of respectability for their veracity from whom he re. 
ceived them, together with a solemn assurance that 
they had been eye and ear witnesses of all they related 
concerning her. 

And although true it is, that from the great length of 
time which has elapsed since Jemima commenced her 
career as a Pieacheress, and from the imperfection of 
man's memory, some inaccuracies may have intervened 
as to the order of time in which the events of her life 
happened, yet as to the existence of those events, and 
their attendant circumstances, all those who pretend to 
relate them agrbe.with remarkable precision and exact- 
ness. 

The history of Jemima Wilkinson thus rests upon the 
testimony of a variety of witnesses, one of whom was 
acquainted with her, and knew her well, from her birth 
to her death ; and the resid e of whom were intimately 
acquainted with her, were almost constantly with her, 
and had an opportunity of learning whatever took 
place in her society, from the commencement to the 
termination of her ministry. Although lis ere is some 
diversity of opinion among them as to the real views 
and character of Jemima, yet they agree precisely in 
the statement of all the material facts they undertake 
to relate. The author, therefore, feels warranted in 



IV. 



offering this to the reader as an authentic History of 
the life of Jemima Wilkinson. He makes no other pre- 
tension. That it is defective in point of style and ar. 
rangement, he is free to acknowledge. But these are 
defects which he has neither leisure nor skill to remedy, 
and for which lie will, therefore, make no apology ; nor 
is he at all anxious as to the good or ill will of critics: 
for as he does not expect, so neither will he ask, any 
exemption from the exercise of what they deem their 
rights. In conclusion, however, he would remark, that 
it has not been his intention to give offence to any one, 
but that he has written this Histon for the amusement 
of himself, and of those who may cht «e to read it. 



INTRODUCTION. 

It has been the unfortunate lot of mankind, 
in all ages and in all countries, to be divided 
in their views of a future state ; and while the 
existence of a Supreme, creating and govern, 
ing Spirit has been almost universally ac- 
knowledged, the opinions of men concerning 
the nature and attributes of that Spirit, have 
been various and contradictory. Since the 
light of Revelation has been sent to the assist- 
ance of the human mind, many, and perhaps 
some of the greatest, difficulties which in- 
quiry had to encounter, have entirely vanish- 
ed. The Great Creator of all things has been 
graciously pleased from time to time to mani. 
fest himself unto his fallen creatures, and to fur- 
nish them with the means of learning his pow- 
er, his mercy, his wisdom and his truth ; of 
knowing themselves, their duty to him and to 
each other ;—- the nature and extent of the ser. 
vice he requires of them, and the manner in 
which that service shall be rendered ; the re. 
wards which await those who acknowledge 
and obey, and the punishments which are re- 
served for those who deny, his authority. But 
such is the weakness and perversity of the hu- 
man mind, that with all these advantages, men 
have never been able to unite together in one 
common system of faith and practice ; and 
even at the present day, with the wisdom, re- 
search and experience of ages before them, 
they are, perhaps, as much divided on the 



▼X. 

subject of Religion, as at any former period 
of (he world. Systems almost innumerable 
still prevail, and the votary of each thinks 
himself peculiarly favored of Heaven, in be- 
ing led into the only safe and sure road to fu- 
ture happiness. 

Among those systems the Christian Reli- 
gion stands pre-eminent for its purity, its au- 
thenticity, and for the beneficial effects (even 
in this world) which have, in all ages, attend- 
ed its promulgation and a belief in its doc- 
trines. Although there may, and probably al- 
ways will, exist some diversity of sentiment 
as to the rites and ceremonies, and the tern- 
poral government and discipline of the Chris- 
tian Church, yet in respect to those princi- 
ples which constitute the foundation of the 
system itself, there is but little difference. 
The existence of the Trinity, the fall of man, 
the atonement by Christ, and the necessity of 
repentance, faith and obedience, are truths 
which for ages past have been almost univer- 
sally acknowledged throughout Christendom, 
which form the basis of the Christian's hope, 
and from which he derives those maxims of 
moral and religious duty, upon the observ- 
ancn of which, and the mercy of God, he re- 
lies for future happiness. 

The division of the Christian community 
into numerous and various denominations, is a 
ciicumstance much us^d by those who deny 
the divine origin of Christianity, as an ar- 
gument against the authenticity of the Scrip- 



vn. 

tures; but a careful investigation of the su^ 
ject will convince every impartial mind that 
this argument proves nothing against the 
Christian religion ; though it clearly demon- 
strates (what is always admitted) the imper- 
fection of man, the weakness of his judgment 
and his liability to err. So long, thereto ret, 
as the leading and important doctrines of the 
Gospel are taught and believed, by the differ, 
ent Churches which acknowledge Christ as 
their head, charity, the brightest and most 
precious ornament in the Christian character, 
permits every denomination to enjoy, unin- 
terruptedly, their various opinions respecting 
their outward forms and ceremonies, requiring 
only, that all should sincerely believe the truth 
of what they profess. But this is the extent 
to which charity will require, and perhaps 
permit, us to go. If we believe in that sys- 
tem of religion which we profess, our duty to 
ourselves, and to the master we serve, requires 
us to withhold our assent and countenance 
from those who attempt to promulgate new sys- 
tems of faith and practice which contradict 
the evidence of our senses, and which are at 
war with the doctrines of the gospel ; for 
Christ hath said " Beware of false Prophets 
which come to you in sheep's clothing, but 
inwardly they are ravening wolves."* That 
there should rise false Christs and false Proph- 
ets who should deceive and delude mankind, 

* Matthew vn. 15, 



VIII. 

was expressly foretold by cur Saviour.* And 
that many such have already risen, pretending 
to extra ordinary missions, exciting the won. 
der of the credulous, the fears of the timid, 
and misleading the unwary, history bears am. 
pie and painful testimony 

Accounts are already recordedf of twenty 
four of these impostors who have flourished 
in various countries, and at different periods 
since the Christian era, who have either de- 
nied in direct terms the divinity of our Sav- 
iour, or attempted to propagate new creedg 
find strange doctrines altogether inconsistent 
with the Christian Religion. 

To this melancholy account of enthusiasm, 
delusion and imposture, we are now about 
Co add another instance in the History of Je» 
itiima Wilkinson. Whether the character 
of this woman, and her doctrines and career, 
resembled those of former pretenders, is not 
a matter of any consequence. It is our bu- 
siness to give a faithful history of her life and 
character, according to the best information 
that could be obtained ; from which the rea- 
dcr may draw his own conclusion, and from 
which, it is presumed, he will find but little 
difficulty in determining whether or not this 
extraordinary personage belonged to that class 
to which our blessed Lord and Saviour allud- 
ed in his conversation with his disciples on the 
Mount of Olives.f 

• Matthew xxiv, 11— Mark xm, 5,6, 21 and 22. 
t Buck's Theological Dictionary, p. 308, 9. 
t Mark xxm, 9 and 22, 



MEMOIR OF JEMIMA WILKINSON. 



Jemima Wilkinson, was born in the 
town of Cumberland, in the county of 
Providence and state of Rhode Island, of 
obscure, but reputable parents. Her father 
Jeremiah Wilkinson, was a farmer by oc- 
cupation^ and possessed a small estate in 
Cumberland, the cultivation of which oc- 
cupied his attention, and afforded a com- 
fortable support for his family. He was 
a man of strong- mind, and rather stubborn 
disposition. Not having enjoyed the ben- 
efits of an education, he, as is too often the 
case, set a Jight value upon mental im- 
provement, and made a merit of despis- 
ing the politer accomplishments. He usu- 
ally attended the Friends' meetings, being 
more attached to their society than to any 
other religious sect, yet was never ac- 
knowledged by them as a regular mem- 
ber of their community. In early life he 
married a young woman of the name of 
Amy Whipple, by whom he had twelve 



10 MEMOIR OF 

children, six sons and six daughters. Je- 
mima, their eighth child, was born in the 
year one thousand seven hundred and fifty 
one, and to her exclusively, is this family 
indebted for the celebrity of its name. Her 
mother was an amiable and intelligent 
woman, an exemplary house wife, and an 
affectionate mother ; and to the care and 
instruction of h^r children was her whole 
life devoted. She was a member of the 
society of Friends for many years, and 
highly esteemed for her benevolence and 
piety, and the uniform tenor of her useful 
life. She died soon after the birth of her 
youngest child, leaving the care and edu- 
cation of her children to their father, whose 
ideas on this subject extended but little, if 
any, beyond instructing them in those 
branches of labor and domestic economy, 
to which he had himself been accustomed, 
and by which his family had been support- 
ed. The loss of his wife was to him a 
very severe affliction, from the effects o 
which he never fully recovered. He re- 
mained single, and towards the close of 
his life became melancholy — spent the 
greater part of his time in solitude, and 
died at the advanced age of about seventy 
years. 

Jemima was about eight years old when 
her mother died, and from that time, until 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 11 

she arrived at the age of sixteen, she ex- 
hibited no peculiar traits of character or 
temper which would distinguish her from 
other girts of her age and rank in life, ex- 
cepting her unconquerable aversion to ev- 
ery thing like labor. She seldom differed 
with those about her, unless when request- 
ed to perform her part of the drudgery of 
the family — and on these occasions she 
evinced an unusual share of cunning in 
shifting upon her elder sisters the tasks 
assigned her. To effect this, she resorted, 
from time to time, to every expedient of 
which she was mistress: flattery, persua- 
sion and pretences of ill health, were in 
turn brought to her aid, and when these 
failed, they were succeeded by so much 
stubbornness and negligence, as to increase 
the labor of the family in compelling her 
to perform her duty. Jemima had now 
become a fine blooming ^irl, was sprightly 
in her manners, corneiy in her person, and 
possessed of no ordinary share of beauty; 
and had her excellent mother lived to en- 
joy the sweet satisfaction of moulding her 
disposition, of cultivating her understand- 
ing, and of instilling into her tender mind 
those principles of obedience, industry and 
benevolence, which she herself possessed, 
and which so eminently distinguish the 
society of Friends, Jemima would doubtless 



12 HEMOIR OF 

have been a useful member of the com- 
munity, and an ornament to the little cir- 
cle in which she moved. But these ad- 
vantages being lost to her. she grew up 
in idleness and disobedience, and discov- 
ered early and strong symptoms of that 
propensity to dictate and rule which char- 
acterised her after career. Finding her 
extremely troublesome, and altogether use- 
less at home, her father at length yielded 
to her repeated solicitations to go abroad 
and learn the trade of a tailoress : and 
happy had it been for many a ruined fam- 
ily had she made herself mistress of, and 
followed that useful occupation, through 
life. 

Released from the control of her sisters, 
the restraint to which she had been sub- 
jected, enlivened by the novelty of her 
new situation, and entertained by the rou- 
tine of customers and the technical lan- 
guage of the shop, she was at first highly 
delighted, and no doubt thought herself 
extremely fortunate in this change of em- 
ployment. But these effects gradually 
wore ofF, and ere long the causes which 
had induced her to desire to leave her fa- 
ther's house, operated with equal force in 
producing a strong inclination again to re- 
turn thither. Her impatience of restraint, 
her total aversion to any regular employ- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. i3 

ment, and her ungovernable temper, be- 
gan to make their appearance, and at length 
rendered her longer sojourning with her 
new acquaintance altogether inadmissible. 
She was accordingly dismissed and sent 
back to her father, after an absence of 
about ten months. 

From this time for about seven years, 
nothing occurred respecting our heroine, 
the relation of which would be either in- 
teresting or instructive. Her contempt of 
industry, and her fondness for dress and 
company, increased with her years. She 
had many broils and contests with her sis- 
ters, in most of which she succeeded by her 
obstinacy or management. Amusement 
and pleasure, an exemption from the 
cares and confinement of domestic life, 
and an insatiable ambition for parade, su- 
periority and dictation, had become her 
ruling passions. Her ripening Beauties, 
her quick and sharp wit, and her elegant 
person, procured her admirers, which in- 
creased her pride and vanity, and ren* 
dered her regardless of every thing' which 
did not minister to her gratification. She 
declared that she would not attend 
church, or go into any public company, 
unless she could appear better attired than 
any other person in the assembly J — that 
she had but one life to live, and that she 



14 xihoir or 

intended to spend in ease and enjoyment. 
She had lost all respect for her family — 
set at nought her father's authority, and 
spurned the advice and admonitions of her 
sisters. Fools might do as they pleased, 
she would say, but as for herself, she owed 
allegiance to no mortal, neither would she 
be controlled by man or woman. 

Jemima was now about twenty three 
years of age, and extremely gay and list- 
less, spending her time in idleness at home, 
or visiting and amusement abroad. The 
boldness with which she declared her in- 
tentions, and the persevering obstinacy 
with which she carried them into effect, 
surprised and confounded her eldest sis- 
ters ; and her father, being far advanced 
in life, seldom troubled himself about his 
daughters, whom he now considered old 
enough to govern themselves. She thus 
gained a complete ascendency in her fam- 
ily, which she maintained with jealous 
care during the residueof her life. 

About the 3^ear 1774, there sprang up 
in the county of Providence, a sect of reli- 
gionists styling themselves "Neio-Lights" 
called by some "New-Light Baptists" 
and by others "Separators" they having 
separated from other denominations. The 
zeal of these fanatics exceeded that of all 
other professors of religion, and constitut- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 15 

ed, in their opinion, no doubt, their chief 
excellence. They insisted upon the prac- 
ticability and necessity of living continu- 
ally in the power and spirit ot religion, 
which consisted in constantly exhibiting 
outward evidence of the internal work- 
ings of the spirit ; which they failed not 
to do whenever an opportunity offered of 
attracting public notice. They had for 
a considerable time but little success in 
gaining proselytes to their new scheme : 
but from their want, or contempt, of reg- 
ular church organization and government, 
this society held out strong temptations 
to noisy and ambitious zealots, who might 
wish to distinguish themselves as leaders 
in their meetings, to join them. By their 
creed also, (if creed it could be called) all 
persons who fancied themselves to be un- 
ceasingly actuated by the spirit and power 
of religion, and to be constantly guided by 
an illumination directly frotnheaven, were 
deemed fit for immediate membership, and 
were accordingly admitted without much 
scrutiny as to their morals or conduct. A- 
bout the close of this year there was a con- 
siderable addition to the society of Sepa- 
rates in the town of Cumberland, and 
the zeal and fervor manifested by them, 
engaged for a while the serious attention 
of some and the curiosity of others. A- 



16 MEMOIR or 

mong the latter, was Jemima, whose im 
patience of confinement, and fondness for 
gaiety, dress and public company, drew 
her to all the meetings in her neighbor- 
hood. She soon however became serious- 
ly inclined, and steady in her attendance 
on these meetings ; her airy gaiety was 
exchanged for sedateness and reflection, 
and in her outward demeanor she gave 
strong evidence of a change in the state of 
her mind. But as she did not furnish suf- 
ficient evidence of enthusiastic devotion to 
satisfy the requirements of their system, 
she was never considered a member of the 
society. She continued to attend their 
meetings with great punctuality, was very 
attentive, and appeared to be much attach- 
ed to these people. But this society, after 
flourishing a short time, went rapidly to 
decay, and was broken up by the falling off 
of its members, almost as suddenly as it 
was formed. By the immutable laws of 
nature it is provided, that every elevation 
of the human mind which is produced by 
the presence of unusually exciting causes, 
must almays be succeeded by a depression, 
equally removed from the common stand- 
ard, whenever those exciting causes cease 
to exist, or the mind becomes insensible 
to their operation. It is therefore, perhaps, 
no matter of wonder, that these enthusi- 



JEMIMA WILKINSOX. 17 

astic zealots after haviftg been suddenly 
wrought up to a pitch of fanaticism bor- 
dering on phrenzy, by efid&ivorng to outdo 
everybody else, and even each other, in 
the vehemence of their devotion, should 
as abruptly fall off, become scattered, and 
finally, with their crude and undefined sys- 
tem, pass quietly down the current of time, 
leaving scarcely a trace behind. Hue al- 
though Jemima had not been operated up- 
no with that violence which was common 
to the most zealous of this society, yet her 
mind appeared to have received a strong 
impression as to the nature and necessity 
of religion, during her attendance upon 
these meetings, which wrought a very 
considerable change in her habits and con- 
duct. She continued thoughtful and se- 
rious, and instead of the pursuit of pleas- 
ure, religious subjects principally engros- 
sed her attention. She had always shown 
a fondness for books, and had read many 
of the common-place productions within 
her reach ; light and airy tales, novels, ro- 
mances, newspapers and poetry, occupied 
chiefly her attention at home, and served 
as a pretext for refusing to take upon her- 
self a due share of the domestic duties of 
the family. But her taste was now en- 
tirely changed as to the choice of books, 
while her inclination for reading became 
B 



16 MEMOIR OP 

stronger than ever, and instead of amuse- 
ment, she now read for instruction, and 
those volumes which had formerly been 
her delight, gave place to her Bible, with 
which she had previously enjoyed but a 
slight acquaintance. Her visiting abroad, 
of which she had been excessively fond, 
became less frequent, and was confined 
chiefly to the serious and sedate of her ac- 
quaintance. She forgot in some measure 
her pride of dress, and the little jealousies 
with which her rival beauties in the 
neighborhood had formerly inspired her, 
were no longer held in remembrance. She 
continued for several months to grow 
more reserved, and fond of solitude, alto* 
gether discontinuing her visits abroad and 
confining herself mostly to her room. 
This increasing change in her disposition 
and conduct, was noticed by her family 
and acquaintance, and as they all knew 
her to possess an ardent mind, they con 
eluded that she was laboring under those 
impressions which she had received on 
the subject of religion, and that peace and 
cheerfulness would in due time revisit 
her troubled breast. She was therefore 
indulged in her retirement, until about 
midsummer 1776, when she secluded her- 
self altogether from company and social 
converse, and to avoid intrusion, and sat- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 19 

isfjr inquiries, complained of ill health, 
and occasionally kept her bed. The fam- 
ily, alarmed at this strange conduct, 
thought proper to call in the family Phy- 
sician, who visited her regularly for sev- 
oral days, and very carefully examined 
her case, but could not ascertain that she 
endured any pain or distress, or that her 
system was disordered ; but was given to 
understand by her, that she neeied none 
of his assistance. He therefore gave it 
as his opinion, that her bodily health was 
altogether unimpaired, and that she was 
laboring under some strong mental delu- 
sion, the removal of which, would wean 
her from love of solitude, and restore her 
to her family, friends and society ; but to 
affect this required a skill which he did 
not possess. He continued his v sits how- 
ever, though rather in compliance with 
the wishes of the family than in the hope 
or expectation of benefiting his patient. 
Jemima continued in this slate until the 
latter end of September, when she pre- 
tended an increase of illness and confined 
herself altogether to her bed. In a few 
weeks after, she became feeble and wan, 
and the apparent decline of her health so 
increased the solicitude of the family, that 
nightly watchers were procured to attend 
in her room, while she received the con- 



20 MEMOIR OF 

stant care of her sisters by day. She now 
began to speak of having visions from 
heaven, and extraordinary visitations from 
the regions beyond the skies ; and at the 
dead hour of night, when all nature was 
hashed to repose, and her timid attendants 
were tremblingly alive to the least rustling 
of the breeze which fell upon the loosened 
shutter of her window, she would endeav- 
or to impress upon their minds the real- 
ity of these ridiculous pretences, by de- 
scribing, with great solemnity, the ominous 
noises which she heard, the ghostly sights 
which were constantly presented to her 
vision, and the celestial forms which were 
continually passing in her view. Yet still 
the attending Physician declared that she 
labored under no disease or debilitating 
cause, excepting what arose from her 
long, obstinate and close confinement, and 
the gloomy workings of a diseased ima- 
gination ; and the confidence with which 
he maintained this opinion, the care and 
attention with which he had investigated 
her case, together with his high standing 
as n member of the faculty, satisfied the 
family and their friends as to the situation 
of his patient, and the nature of her mal- 
ady. 

On Thursday evening, about the latter 
end of October 1776, two women of the* 



JEMIMA. WILKINSON. til 

neighborhood came to watch with Jemi- 
ma, who were far from being supersti- 
tious, and who were not very likely to be 
disturbed by those tales of wonder and 
mystery with which she had frightened 
several of her nurses of less courage and 
fortitude. As soon as the family had re- 
tired to rest, and the house became still, she 
began to entertain those attendants with 
the old story of her visitations and visions, 
and the sights, and forms, and noises, 
which she continually saw and heard. 
But these ladies were not to be intimidated, 
or imposed upon by such vagrant assert- 
ions; and when she requested them to 
observe the white figures and celestial 
forms which she pretended to point out, 
they denied that any thing of the kind 
was apparent, and chided her folly ; but 
Jemima insisted the more obstinately in 
proportion to their incredulity, and bade 
them take notice of the motion of her bed 
curtains, asserting at the same time, that 
it was occasioned by the presence of the 
Lord, who was then visiting and minis- 
tering unto her. This tremulous motion 
of her curtains was produced, as her at- 
tendants afterwards declared, by Jemima, 
in pressing her feet against the wall at 
the foot of her bed. She also informed 
them that a great change in her state and 



22 MEMOIR OF 

condition was soon to take place, and that 
she felt conscious she was about to be call- 
ed to act some great and useful part in this 
wicked world, for the benefit of mankind. 
In this manner she vexed her attendants 
and fatigued herself, until a little past 
eleven o'clock, when she fell into a light 
slumber, and continued in that situation 
for nearly an hour. Her nurse, during 
this interval of quiet, went several times 
to her bed side, and observed her to be 
pale and motionless, and apparently life- 
less ; but upon a close examination fou 
nd her features unchanged, her pulse reg- 
ular, and her respiration so soft and silent 
as almost to elude the closest scrutiny. 
Immediately after the clock struck twelve, 
she raised herself up in bed, and appear- 
ed as if suddenly awakened from a re- 
freshing sleep. Her attendants inquired 
of her what she wanted, when to their 
utter astonishment, she, in an authori- 
tative tone, and a voice much stronger 
than usual, demanded her clothes; one of 
them desired her to lie down and compose 
herself to rest^ but she still persisted in 
her demand with increased firmness and 
austerity, declaring that she had passed 
the gates of death^ and was now risen 
from the dead. Her father, who had 
been sleeping in an ad joining room, be- 



JEMIKA WILKINSON. 23 

ing awakened by their loud talk, rose and 
came to the door, and on being informed 
of her strange whims, endeavored to quiet 
her clamour and sooth her to repose, but 
she disdainfully rejected his kind atten- 
tions, as an impertinent interference, and 
told him she owed obedience to the high- 
er powers only. Her apparel was procur- 
ed, and she immediately got up and dress- 
ed herself, and from that time forward went 
about in apparently as good health as she 
had usually enjoyed, though somewhat 
feeble and emaciated by her long confine- 
ment. 

Jemima did not go abroad until the 
Sabbath following; in the meanwhile 
many of her neighbors and acquaintance 
called to see her, having understood that 
she had recovered ; but she repelled, with 
the utmost promptitude, their congratu- 
lations on her recovery r , and denied that it 
was not Jemima to whom they were speak- 
ing, and with affected solemnity informed 
them that the body of Jemima Wilkinson 
had been dead, that her soul was then in 
heaven, and that the tabernacle which Je- 
mima had left behind was re-animated by 
the power and spirit of Jesus Christ, that 
this was the second coming of the Lord, 
who was to remain on earth and reign a 
thousand years, that it was the eleventh 



MEMOIR OP 



hour, and the last call of mercy that would 
wer be made to the human race ; that an 
" inquiry was made in Heaven saying, 
'Who will go and Preach to a dying 
World V and she answered, < Here am L 
send me,' and that she thereupon immedi- 
ately left the realms of light and glory, and 
the company of the heavenly host, who 
are continually worshiping 1 God — in order 
to pass through many trials and sufferings 
for the happiness of mankind/' She said 
also, that on leaving the realms of bliss, it 
had been given her to choose whether 
she would be received back into Heaven, 
bodily, at the end of the first ten days of 
her terrestrial residence, or remain on earth 
and encounter the difficulties and suffer- 
ings of the world, for the benefit of man- 
kind for a thousand years, and then receive 
a corporeal translation into Heaven. She 
said that " those who refused to believe 
these exalted things concerning her, will 
be in the state of the unbelieving Jews, 
who neglected the counsel of God against 
themselves." At the end of the ten days, 
Dot having left her friends, she inform- 
ed them that she had elected to reign on 
earth a thousand years, and that the tab- 
ernacle which she inhabited, (a cant 
phrase which she ever after useid when 
speaking of her person) was immortal. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 23 

that ft would never die, and that at the 
close of that period it would be taken up 
into Heaven in a clocrd of glory. 

Many of iher friends and relations of Je- 
mima visited her during the Friday and 
Saturday following the termination of her 
confinement, and various were their sens- 
ations and conjectures on witnessing her 
absurd conduct, and in contemplating the 
reprehensible course which she appeared 
determined to pursue. Some were vexed 
with her arrogance and obstinacy; others 
were intimidated by the set manner of 
her speech, the firmness of her voice, the 
inflexibility of her countenance, and the 
steady and intense stare from her keen eye; 
while the greater part of them believed her 
to be laboring under a slight degree of 
mental derangement, occasioned by the 
debility arising from her recent confine- 
ment, which they hoped would gradually 
wear off as her strength returned ; while 
they all agreed that there was something 
very strange in her conduct. No one,, 
however, believed a word of her prepos- 
terous pretensions, or that she would at- 
tempt to persevere in them for any con- 
siderable length of time, for all were cer- 
tain that it was the same person, the same 
Jemima, whom they had known and seea 
daily from her infancy. 
C 



26 MEMOIR OF 

On Sabbath day after Jemima Wilkin- 
son rose from the— bed, she made her ap- 
pearance at the public meeting in the 
neighborhood \ she was habited" in plain 
and simple attire, but with the utmost neat- 
ness ; her countenance was pale and lan- 
guid, which, with a good form and graceful 
movement, gave her 'an interesting appear- 
ance. It being remarkable fine weather, 
people attended meeting from a consider- 
able distance, so that there was an unusu- 
ally large audience. Immediately after 
morning service was ended, and while 
the congregation were waiting about the 
meeting-house, as was customary during 
the intermission, Jemima walked to a shade 
tree at a little distance, where, as she no 
doubt expected and wished, a considerable 
number immediately followed her; she 
then began without any ceremony to ad- 
dress them. This drew others along, and 
in a few minutes almost the whole con- 
gregation were gathered about her. This 
crafty actress now summoned all her pow- 
ers to please her audience and engage 
their attention, and although not accus- 
tomed to speak in public, she continued her 
discourse for nearly half an hour with 
considerable fluency, and without discov- 
ering any signs of embarrassment. Her 
feeble voice, her graceful gestures, her Ian* 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 27 

guid countenance, her persuasive lan- 
guage, and the soft expression of her fine 
eyes, together with tier recent extraordi- 
nary confinement, and the novelty of the 
scene before them, produced a great effect 
upon her hearers. This address was rather 
in the style of a moral lecture than a ser- 
mon. She descanted upon the beauty of 
virtue and morality, of the heinousness of 
sin, and the necessity of an amendment oi 
life, and a faithful discharge of every duty ; 
and evinced a knowledge of the scriptures, 
and an acquaintance with religious sub- 
jects generally, which astonished all who 
heaid her. She had spent the principal 
part of her time for about a year with her 
Bible, and other religious looks, and her 
memory was so retentive that she could 
repeat a greater portion of what she had 
read than almost any other person of her 
time. As this was her first attempt, and 
as much of her future success depended 
upon the effect she could now produce, it 
is reasonable to suppose that her discourse 
had been carefully prepared for the first 
opportunity of the kind that should pre- 
sent itself. Although s?he did not offer her- 
self to her hearers as their saviour, yet she 
had several strong allusions to the facts and 
circumstances which she had asserted to 
her visitants during the two preceding 



28 MEMOIR OF 

days. Having ended her address, she in- 
formed them that whoever wished to see 
and converse with her, could enjoy that 
privilege by calling on her at the place 
where she sojourned, and inimidiately left 
them ; but took care on this, as on all sub- 
sequent occasions, to say nothing about 
home, father, brothers or sisters, or any 
thing that should imply a relationship anS 
connexion between herself and the rest of 
the human race According to her invita- 
tion many called to see her from time to 
time, some from a desire of convincing her 
of the impiety of her conduct and preten- 
sions, and the folly and danger of per- 
severing in such blasphemies ; and many 
from mere curiosity. As there was fre- 
quently a considerable collection at her fa- 
ther's to spend an evening, she had many 
opportunities of exhorting and praying to 
an audience, and was sure never to let 
them pass unimproved. She attended all 
the meetings in the town — was present 
at all the conferences and collections of 
serious people, and particularly at funer- 
als, and always watched an opportunity of 
posting herself in some conspicuous place, 
and haranguing those who would pay at- 
tention to her discourses. From the nov- 
elty of such conduct, and the earnestness 
of her demeanor, she generally attracted 



JE3I1MA WILKINSON. 29 

more attention than any other speaker. 
After having pursued this desultory kind 
of preaching for some months, and find- 
ing a few inclined to become her followers, 
Jemima ventured to appoint meetings of 
her own. This succeded beyond her most 
sanguine expectation. Her meetings were 
more numerous and attentive thaifsheor 
any other .person had anticipated. Her 
lame began to spread abroad, persons came 
trom a distance to hear her, and invited 
her to go into other towns to preach. 
This was a result for which she had been 
for some time anxiously looking, and to 
produce which, she had strove with all the 
art and cunning of which she was mis- 
tress. Accordingly, these invitations were 
eagerly accepted, and promptly complied 
with, out of pure zeal, no doubt, for the 
welfare of souls. Jt was also favorable to 
the success of her schemes, for by shifting 
about from place to place, she was, at no 
period, stationary a sufficient length of time 
to hazard an exposure of her real motives 
and true character. In her perambula- 
tions she visited New-Port, Providence, 
Seconnet and North and South Kingston 
in the State of Rhode-Island, and New- 
Milford and some other places in Connec- 
ticut, and New-Bedford in Massachusetts. 
Having undertaken to establish a new 



30 MEMOIR OF 

religion, and to organize a sect of which 
she was to be the head and founder, it be- 
came expedient (in her judgment) to avoid 
the beaten track of all denominations of 
christians; she accordingly rejected with 
disdain all forms and ceremonies, all 
church government and dicipline, and fi- 
nally the sacraments, and many other 
leading doctrines of Christianity. Hence 
it came to pass, that her society was com- 
posed of dissenters from other denomina- 
tions, those who had been suspended or 
excluded from church membership for 
their disorderly conduct — a few unprinci- 
pled adventurers, and a still greater num- 
ber of weak men and women, and inexpe- 
rienced girls and children. As the society 
increased, however, her means of decep- 
tion multiplied, until she succeeded in de- 
luding several persons of respectability for 
wealth and intelligence. Indeed, it soon 
became her leading object to proselyte 
those who possessed the means of support- 
ing her in her idleness and extravagance. 
She visited New Port while the British 
forces lay there, tarried some time, and 
preached to the officers, who were very 
much pleased and amused with her; one 
of whom, in particular, pretended to be vi- 
olently in love with her, paid her his ad- 
dresses, and obtained se veral private in- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 31 

terviews with his fair instructress. It 
was agreed between them, that he should 
resign his commission in the service of his 
King, and enlist under the banners of a 
mistress, in whose service there would be 
more comfort and less hazard. In short, 
that he should retire to his estates, which 
he pretended to possess in his native coun- 
try, where she was to follow him as soon 
as possible, when the contract now enter- 
ed into was to be more publicly and for- 
mally ratified. As no human eye or ear 
was permitted to witness the tenderness of 
the parting scene, the reader must not ex- 
pect a minute description of it. Suffice it 
to say, that she returned to North-Kings- 
ton, and the fleet some time after left the 
port, Jemima now began to preach uni- 
versal love and good will to all mankind; 
deplored the infatuation of the people of 
England in sending troops to this country 
to murder their brethren; and in due 
time discovered to her credulous follow- 
ers, that it was her duty to go and preach 
peace and benevolence to the people of the 
mother country, to the end, that wars and 
rumors of wars might cease. So success- 
fully did this arch deceiver practice upon 
her confiding people, that the measure 
was cheerfully assented to by them, and 
every preparation made for her voyage. 



32 MEMOIR OF 

Her passage was engaged, clothing pur- 
chased, sea stores procured, and money 
furnished. So ample and expensive was 
the equipment of this adventurer, and so 
small were the number of her followers 
who possessed the means and the dispo- 
sition to furnish supplies, that the advan- 
ces made by one individual, who had more 
money than sense, amounted to about a 
thousand dollars. It was now in the lat- 
ter end of the month of June, the weather 
fine, the vessel taking in her lading, and 
our female Quixotte, having all her para- 
pharnalia packed up, ready to be put on 
board, was daily watching with palpitating 
heart, the sweet breezes that gently fanned 
the bosom of the deep, and which were 
soon to waft her to bliss and terrestrial 
glory. A meeting of her followers was 
appointed to receive her benediction, and 
long farewell — when lo! a mischievous 
newspaper fell in her way containing an 
account of some military operations and 
skirmishes, with a detail of the killed and 
wounded, among the latter of whom was 

Major , Jemima's pretended lover. 

This intelligence was like a thunder stroke 
to Jemima, and at once blasted all the 
prospect of imaginary greatness and feli- 
city with which her admirer had so suc- 
cessfully flattered her. The reading of 



JEMIMA WXLKIN80N. 33 

this unwelcome news was no sooner end- 
ed than she rose from her seat, and retired 
immediately to her room, where she shut 
herself up, and freely vented her rage a- 
gainst her treacherous lover, in whom she 
now found she had trusted too far. 

The mind of this woman was, howev- 
er, of no ordinary cast ; quick and deci- 
sive in forming her plans, cunning and 
perseyering in their execution, and relying 
upon the credulity of her devotees, she 
was not long in devising the means of ex- 
tricating herself from this unpleasant di- 
lemma. A visitation and counter orders 
from Heaven would effectually do the bu- 
siness. But the mortification at the faith- 
lessness and loss of her lover, and her 
fears of the consequences of her indulgent 
interviews with this son of Mars, sat heav- 
ily on her mind. She complained of ill 
health, and spent the evening until very 
late, in reading and reflection ; and then 
throwing herself on her bed, without un- 
dressing, she directed two of her confidants 
to watch her during the remainder of the 
night; as her followers were to meet the 
next day to receive her blessing and part- 
ing admonition, this night was to be spent 
in preparing herself for the event. She 
continued several hours in deep medita- 
tion, laying perfectly still 5 with her eyeso- 



34 MEMOIR OF 

pen apparently fixed in their sockets. About 
four in the morning, she rose and resumed 
her reading. When the hour of meeting 
approached, she attired herself with the ut- 
most neatness and care, and repaired to 
the place of meeting where her cheated 
worshippers were waiting, in breathless 
anxiety, her august approach. Having 
seated herself, and rested a few minutes, 
Jemima rose and addressed her people in 
her usual style, expressing great tender^ 
ness and anxiety for their happiness, and 
exhorting them to be strong in the faith, 
and to be content with whatever was al- 
lotted them, adding that the Lord would 
provide for them, that they were the pecu- 
liar objects of divine care and protection, 
that the Friend had come among them to 
save from tailing all such as had faith, and 
should persevere to the end. After much 
circumlocution she arrived at the critical 
point, the vision — " I have a message from 
Heaven for this people, therefore listen, 
and let thine .ears give head to what the 
c Universal Friend of mankind' saith : — 
Last night, while reflecting on the labor of 
love which was about to be undertaken 
for the conversion of distant and precious 
souls, my mind became wearied, sorrow 
and sadness sat heavily on my spirits. 
Suddenly a ray of light from above shone 



JEMIMA WILKINSON, 35 

with unutterable splendor, and illuminat- 
ed the room, — an Angel from Heaven 
stood before me ! and with a placid smile, 
and sweet voice pronounced these words : 
" Put off the journey which thou hast un- 
dertaken, the time of thy sojourning a- 
mong the faithful, in this vale of darkness; 
is not yet accomplished : go meet thy peo- 
ple, and inform them that it is the will of 
the Lord that the Shepherd abide with the 
flock, that no evil come nigh unto them.' 
Here, my beloved, ye have heard the 
words of the Lord, the Friend will there- 
fore remain with this people for the edifi- 
cation and strengthening of their souls." 

This discourse, and the impious pre- 
tence that she spoke the words of the Lord, 
completely satisfied her deluded followers, 
and they retired more firmly fixed in their 
faith than before the getting up of this 
farce ; and those who had parted with their 

money, finding themselves without any re- 
dress, were among the most ready and 
zealous in expressing their entire devotion 

j to Jemima and her cause, in the hope, no 
doubt, that others might, in their turn, be 
as badly cheated as themselves. One of 
them, however, who had made the princi- 
pal advances, was somewhat exasperated ; 

I he obtained a private interview with her, 
and reproached her with having deceived 



36 



MEMOIR OF 



him, aad told her that her intended jour- 
ney was a mere pretence to obtain money, 
and that unless she restored him his own, 
he would abandon the society, and prose- 
cute her to recover his due. But this wily 
actress so managed as to retain this 
wealthy member in her ranks, and, what 
was more to her purpose, to keep the mon- 
ey which she then had in her possession. 
After some altercation, they agreed to have 
the society so organized as that the prop- 
erty of all should be put into a general 
fund, and held as a common stock for the 
benefit of the whole; and that he should 
be appointed overseer and manager of the 
temporal, while she should devote herseli 
wholly to the spiritual concerns of the so- 
ciety. As a large majority of her follow- 
ers had little to give up, and therefore ex- 
pected to better their condition, at least in 
this world, by a ready compliance, this plan 
was no sooner proposed, than adopted by 
the society. But the project was illy rel- 
ished by those who possessed wealth, and 
did not choose to place it in the hands of 
an individual, over whom they had no 
control, and who could not be made ac- 
countable for the manner in which she 
might dispose of it ; and Jemima, finding 
herself in danger of losing some of her 
most wealthy friends and supporters, so 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 37 

modified her decree, as that the members 
might put into the common stock whatev- 
er they pleased. This condescension of 
the Friend, removed all difficulties, and 
made those who did not think it prudent 

[ to part with their fortunes, extremely lib- 

' oral in their donations. 

In order to secure herself against want, 

1 Jemima adopted and carried into effect 

' one of the most bold and impious expedi- 
ents, perhaps, ever practiced in modern 

J times : whenever she wanted anything 
which she saw in the possession of any of 

j her followers, she would send for them and 
say, "the Lord hath need of this thing," 

| and strange as it may appear, it is not less 
true, that several persons, who have in lat- 
ter years abandoned her society, have re- 
peatedly declared that this demand had 
frequently been made on them, and that 

1 they had immediately complied with it, 
because they, at the time, verily believed 
in the divinity of her character, and dared 
not, on any occasion, disobey her com- 
mands. Jemima continued this practice, 
and almost uniformly enforced obedience, 
during the remainder of her life ; and some- 
times with such avaricious severity, that 
those upon whom these predatory requi- 
sitions were made, were constrained to part 
with articles which were extremely neces* 
aary to the comfort of their families. 



38 MEMOIR OP 

She continued to travel about the coun- 
try, and to preach wherever she could ob- 
tain an audience, and attempted to estab- 
lish societies, but for a considerable time 
met with poor success. She at length, 
however, succeeded in forming a small con- 
gregation at South Kingston, and another 
somewhere in Connecticut, who erected 
meeting houses for her accommodation 
when she sojourned among them. She 
was always extremely jealous of the fideli- 
ty of her followers, and in continual fear 
of their falling off, especially the wealthy; 
accordingly every shift was resorted to for 
the purpose of securing their continuance 
in the (aith. When her society in Con- 
necticut erected their meeting house, she 
induced them to enter into a covenant by 
which it was provided, that those who left 
the society should forfeit their rights in the 
building, (which she denominated the 
"Temple of the Lord,") and that it should 
remain the property of those who contin- 
ued faithful unto the end. In process of 
time, the members became scattered and 
fallen off, all but two individuals, to whom 
the property fell, by the conditions of the 
association, and they, it is said, sold the 
building to another society at a handsome 
speculation. But the poor y she was under 
no apprehension of losing ; the common 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 39 

stock doctrine was sure to retain those 
whose adhesion was not so necessary to 
the advancement of her ultimate objects, 
and whom she always considered rather 
as a burthen than otherwise. 

Jemima had negociated matches for all 
her sisters except Deborah, the youngest, 
and in some instances much above their 
rank. In this business she was so great 
an adept, that she found but little diffi- 
culty, even with respect to two of them 
who had previously become mothers with- 
out the sanction of those forms, which by 
the common consent of mankind, are 
deemed indispensible. The juggling of 
the Friend overcame all objections, and 
convinced the dupe of her hypocricy that 
it was his duty to become her sisters hus- 
band. She undoubtedly intended by simi- 
lar means to provide for herself, whenever 
suitable opportunity should occur, but the 
unpropitious result of her attempt upon 
Major — , and the inconvniencies to which 
she had been thereby subjected, checked 
her ambitious hopes on the subject of mat- 
rimony, and being now somewhat ad- 
vanced, having no one among her follow- 
ers who would answer her purpose, and 
seeing no great prospect of splendid addi- 
tions, she gave up the idea of marriage al- 
together. 



40 MEMOIR OF 

Among the most important and useful of 
all of Jemima's proselytes in Rhode Island, 
was Mr. P. a gentleman of handsome for- 
tune and high standing in his neighbour* 
hood. He was very much devoted to the 
interests of Jemima, held her in the high- 
est veneration, and entertained her with 
the greatest kindness and hospitality when- 
ever she visited his family, a part of whom 
also became members of the society. Je- 
mima finding his residence an agreeable 
one, so managed as to obtain his invitation 
to make it her home, which she very mod- 
estly accepted, and remained with him the 
principal part of the time for three years. 
During this period, and shortly after giv- 
ing up her intended journey to England, 
Jemima secluded herself altogether from 
company, confined herself entirely to her 
apartments, and interdicted the approach 
of every one excepting two of her confi- 
dential female friends, who remained with 
her. At the end of about seven months, 
she again made her appearance in public, 
but so wan nnd feeble, as to leave no 
doubt, on the minds of those who did not 
choose to be deceived, as to the nature and 
necessity ot her confinement. About this 
time, Jemima, at the instigation, and with 
the assistance of one Sarah Richards, who 
had recently joined the society, introduced 






JEMIMA WILKINSON. 41 

into her creed a new point of doctrine, pro- 
hibiting matrimony among her followers, 
as unlawful and an "abomination unto the 
Lord." She preached this doctrine vehe- 
mently, and in the most positive manner 
required her unmarried disciples to sup- 
press every inclination which tended to 
the commission of such an awful crime. 
Nay, she attempted to extend this tenet so 
far as to seperate those who had entered 
into wedlock before she had discovered 
the great iniquity of marriage, and while 
she was yet negociating matches for her 
sisters. But having been deceived and in- 
jured by her dear Major, and becoming 
disgusted with the idea of wedlock, her 
mind had now undergone an entire change 
on this subject. Her own disappointments 
had engendered the most bitter resentment, 
which she was illy able to conceal, while 
her envious temper tormented her jealous 
bosom at seeing others enjoy that felicity 
of which she had been cheated. There 
were also other reasons which undoubtedly 
operated strongly, on her mind, and had 
their full share of influence in bringing 
her to an open declaration of war against 
matrimony. The greatest part of her un- 
married adherents were poor, and she did 
not wish to see that description ot follow- 
ers multiply on her hands, as they must 
D 



42 MEMOIR OF 

necessarily be, in some measure, assisted 
from the common stock, which was at no 
time sufficient to satisfy her own avarice. 
She enforced, to the utmost of her au- 
thority, a rigid observance of her injunct- 
ions cfn this subject, and such was the un- 
relenting and tyrannical temper of this 
destroyer of human happiness, and so 
strong the delusion which she had already 
fastened upon her too credulous people, 
that few of her devoted followers dared to 
disobey her unhallowed mandates. Wives 
abandoned their husbands, and husbands 
their wives, in almost all cases where only 
one of them belonged to the society ; many 
families were broken up for a season, and 
some entirely ruined, and the only relaxa- 
tion from her stern decree, was, that where 
the husband and wife were both followers, 
they were permitted to live together ; but 
even in these cases, she prohibited all 
sexual intercourse between them, under 
no less penalty than her displeasure in 
this world, and their eternal punishment 
in the next. In carrying into effect this 
project, she not only incorporated into her 
society the seeds of dissolution, but intro- 
duced indiscribable misery and distress in- 
to many of those families where her bane- 
ful influence predominated. 

Jemima Wilkinson continued her minis- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 43 

trations to the regular congregations which 
she had formed, and to visit and preach at 
various other places in New England, 
where she could occasionally obtain an au- 
dience, but met with little success in ad- 
ding to the number of her followers, or to 
the amount of their common stock ; she 
therefore began to contrive plans for en- 
larging the sphere of her action and the 
extent of her influence. Besides, she be- 
gan to fear the loss of some of her follow- 
ers unless some new project could be hit 
upon to divert their attention from too 
close a scrutiny into her motives and con- 
duct ; she therefore, in consultation with a 
few of her confidential advisers, proposed 
to them a tour into the state of Pennsylva- 
nia, to endeavor to draw proselytes from 
the Quakers, who were numerous, weal- 
thy and respectable in Philadelphia and 
its vicinity. This enterprise was readily 
assented to by them, and on their recom- 
mendation agreed to by the society, and 
the necessary preparations immediately 
made for the journey. She represented to 
the society that she had received a special 
mandate from Heaven to visit their distant 
brethren — that there were many Frinds in 
Pennsylvania who waited the coming of 
the Lord — that she must go and preach to 
them awhile, and that in due time she 



14 MRMOIR OF 

should return. 8he exhorted them to be 
steadfast in the faith, and to persevere un- 
to the end, and promised eternal happiness 
as ihe reward of those who obeyed her 
precepts. She also recommendedpatience 
and meekness under persecution and afflic- 
tions, and whatever was allotted them cau- 
tioning them not to regard the scoffs and 
sneers of worldly minded persons, for those 
were they who had not the love of the 
Lord in their hearts In this way she, in 
a gre<|t measure, fortified them against the 
reasonings and admonitions of their friends 
and prepared their minds to consider every 
thing as blasphemy and persecution which 
did not exactly comport with the absurd 
tenets which siie had taught them. Hav 
big made every necessary preparation, she 
started sometime in the summer of 1782 
for Philadelphia, taking With her live of 
her most useful and devoted followers. 
She travelled leisurely, and preached at 
several places on the way, and made ad- 
vances towards the Quakers whenever an 
opportunity presented itself, hut received 
very little countenance from them. On 
her arrival in Philadelphia, she immedi- 
ately made herself known as the k; Univer- 
se! I Friend ot mankind," and gratuitously 
offered her instruction to all who were 
willing to come and hear it. Her follow- 



JRMIMA WILKINSON. 45 

ers who came with her were very liberal 
in their assertions in relation to this extra- 
ordinary personage, and rehearsed many 
marvellous stories about her death and re- 
surrection, the evidences of her divinity, 
her power to heal the sick and raise the 
dend ; and averred that they had been eye 
and ear witnesses of all they had asserted 
concerning her. Her sudden appearance 
in the city, and the extravagant assertions 
of her companions, produced considerable 
sensation and curiosity, insomuch that she 
was soon accommodated with an opportu- 
nity of displaying her oratory. In a short 
time she became a very popular preacher, 
and attracted great crowds to hear her. 
Her auditors at length became so numer- 
ous that it was with great difficulty a suit- 
able place could be abtained sufficiently 
capacious to contain them. An applica- 
tion was therefore made in her behalf to 
the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal 
St. George's Church, for the use cf their 
building, which was granted her during 
her stay in that city. Jemima was now 
in her element, attended by a numerous 
audience, and preaching as often as suit- 
ed her convenience, to thousands who ad- 
mired the eloquence of the wonderful per- 
sonage who had suddenly, as some of them 
supposed, burst upon mankind in a blaze 



46 MKMOIK OF 

of glory. She made a number of prose- 
lytes, excited much curiosity and aston 
ishment, was treated with great attention 
and hospitality, and lived for a short time 
in considerable splendor. She however 
kept herself somewhat secluded, except 
when attending meetings, and suffered her 
presence to be approached only by her con- 
fidants and select visitors ; she was there- 
fore surrounded by a throng of idlers 
whenever she made her appearance in the 
streets. Under pretence of being incom- 
moded by the multitude, she induced her 
friends to provide a carriage for her con- 
veyance whenever she went out. Al- 
though most people of intelligence became 
satisfied or disgusted on hearing a few re- 
citals from Jemima, and discontinued their 
attendance at her meetings, yet their pla- 
ces were supplied by others from different 
parts of the city, so that by a sort of suc- 
cession of hearers her audience con tinned 
for some time undiminished. But at length 
her congregation began sensibly to de- 
crease, reason triumphed in the minds of 
many, and curiosity became satisfied in 
others, and Jemima, by no means the last 
to discover these symptoms of desertion, 
and the reason thereof, suddenly took her 
leave of them, and removed her quarters 
into the country. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 47 

On the 19th of October, 1782, she arriv- 
ed with her retinue at the house of a Mr. 
W., in the town of Worcester, in the coun- 
ty of Montgomery, about twenty miles from 
Philadelphia. The fame of Jemima had 
preceded her, and among the honest and 
credulous Germans at this place she found 
a ready and cordial welcome. By assum- 
ing the garb and apperance of meekness 
and modesty, and pretending to be zealous 
professors of religion, Jemima and her 
companions gained much upon the confi- 
dence of their entertainers ; meetings were 
appointed and numerously attended. But 
Jemima, remembering the falling off of her 
hearers in Philadelphia, resolved to> pro- 
vide against a similar result here. She 
accordingly held her meetings very fre- 
quently, preached zealously, exhorted ear- 
nestly and prayed fervently ; and withal 
took occasion frequently to deplore the ne- 
cessity of her speedy return to her dearly 
beloved flock in Pthode Island. After a 
few weeks residence in Worcester, Jemi- 
ma and her train took up their line of 
march for the land of their fathers, and so 
successfully had this crafty woman prac- 
ticed upon the credulity of these simple 
and unsuspecting people that they really 
thought her some extraordinary personage, 
but, who, or what she was, they could not 



48 MEMOIR OP 






•exactly conjecture ; for she had not as yet 
deigned to inform them, in direct term?. 
that she was their Savior, although she 
had frequently thrown out hints that she 
was something more than common per- 
sorts, and sometimes in the presence of 
particular individuals, she would speak of 
the " Lord's mercies," and the " Friend's 
favors," in the same conversation, and in 
such a vnanner as to leave their minds in 
doubt as to her real meaning. Many had 
become very much attached to her ; and 
therefore on her departure supplied her 
with the means of prosecuting her journey 
with ease and comfort, a point always of 
the first importance with Jemima. Some 
accompanied her a day's journey, and ma- 
ny followed her with benedictions, and 
their prayers for the safety of her journey. 
On her return to Rhode Island, she found 
her societies there nearly in the same state 
in which she left them ; a very few of the 
members had fallen off, but the most of 
them obstinately persevered in those errors 
which they had embraced and still believ- 
ed, or were ashamed to acknowledge and 
abandon. Her people received her with 
those marks of joy which testified their zeal 
and constancy in her service, and were so 
eager to hear her preach again, after an 
absence of a few months, that Jemima held 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 4J) 

her public meetings daily for about a week f 
when their longings becoming somewhat 
satis: cd, the old order of tdings was restor- 
ed, and she found leisure to travel about 
the country and preach and practice her arts 
of delusion as formerly. In this business 
she had become a complete adept, and dtir 
ring the remainder of her residence in that 
country, practiced many impostures with 
the view of establishing a belief in her 
Messiahship. by which menus she fully 
confirmed her credulous followers in the 
faith of her divinity; but the community 
at In rcre believed her to be a poor miserable 
enthusiast, and being a female, they were 
more leady to pity her lunacy, llian to at- 
tempt to disturb her or the society in the 
enjoyment of those opinions, which they 
ajtpeaxrd to entertain with sincerity. The 
impositions which she attempted to prac- 
tice in working miracles, healing the sick, 
and raising the dead, and pretending to 
know by immediate inspiration from Heav- 
en, the secrets of the heart, \vith many oth- 
er abominable impos'ures, will be noted 
hereafter, when we come to speak mora 
particularly of her doctrines and character^ 
and her conduct as a teacher o! divinity* 
Jemima continued with her ; New-Kng* 
laud followers until thesummeirof 1784, 
when she judged it expedient to make aa* 

E 



50 MRMOIIt OF 

other visit to Philadelphia and Montgome- 
ry county. She had received Iclters from 
her friends at the Litter place, urging her 
to return to them as soon as she could be 
spared from her heloved flock in Khode-ls- 
land. She travel] d hy easy stages, stop, 
ped at several places to preach and seek 
for proselytes, and finally arrived at the 
house of her old friend Mr. W., in the town 
of Worcester, on the 2 th of August, 17-4, 
where she fouiid a cordial and hearty wel- 
come. This man was a very wealthy far- 
mer, and possessed considerable influence 
in his town ; and the countenance and 
protection which Jemima received from 
him, was of great service to her in prose, 
euling her plans in this quarter, and she 
failed not to avail herself of these advan- 
tages to the extent of her influence. She 
now proceeded to organize a society and 
establish rules and regulations for the gov- 
ernment of the members. One of the farms 
of Mr. W. was wholly given up to her and 
the retinue which she brought with her, 
to cultivate for their subsistence ; and the 
commodious and elegant stone dwelling on 
it became the mansion and residence of Je- 
mima and her minions. They enjoyed the 
use of the premises, together with the stock 
and farming utensils, as if the property had 
beeu their own. Yet this did not satisfy 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 51 

these insatiable cormorants, for whatever 
Jemima wanted was almost uniformly ex- 
torted Ironi the deluded members of the 
society, on receiving an intimation from 
her that "the Lord "hath need of it." hi 
levying these contributions, Jemima limit- 
ed herself only by the ability and probable 
disposition of her followers to comply with 
her unhallowed and avaricious exactions. 
During this residence in Pennsylvania, 
she frequently visited Philadelpba, and 
some other parts of the slate, and was al- 
ways furnished with carriages and attend- 
ants at the expense of her society. She 
now gave them to understand that she 
was intrusted with the execution of a spe- 
cial messige from Heaven, and the old 
story of the death of Jemima Wilkinson, 
and the re-animation of her body by the 
Power and Spirit of Christ, was, with ad- 
ditional circumstances of mystery and so- 
lemnity, told to her wondering votaries, 
by her interested and well instructed con- 
fidants, who came with her from Rhode- 
Island, and who with one accord bore po- 
sitive testimony to the truth of these extrav- 
agant and outrageous assertions. They 
were reaiy on all occasions to relate the 
vonderful miracles which she had wrought 
, i their own country, and to which t&ey 
nd been eye and car witnesses. As a far- 



52 MRHOin OF 

fetched story generally goes down better 
than any other, and as the great distance 
of the place, at which these performances 
were located, precluded the possibility of 
immediate detection, the relators were as 
bold in propagating these extravagant ab- 
surdities as their new friends were credu- 
lous in receiving them. Thus did this 
cunning hypocrite effectually fasten her- 
self upon a considerable number of the 
unsuspecting inhabitants of Worcester, as 
a Prophetess, and in fact as a messenger 
from Heaven, in who>;e hands was the ab- 
solute disposal of their destinies, and led 
them to believe thai their future hnppiness 
or misery depended on their faith in the 
divinity of her character and person. 

Being now engaged in her favorite pur* 
suit, and finding some symptoms of suc- 
cess, Jemima exerted ad her industry and 
ingenuity to establish a soriety winch 
should acknowledge her claims to divini- 
ty ; in which she was much assisted by 
her creatures, whom she always kept about 
he/ person, and who acted as spies and lis- 
teners, carrying an account of whatever 
they saw or heard immediately to her. To 
prove herself entitled to their confidence, 
she pretended to know all the secrets of 
their hearts, and by her legerdemain soou 
convinced them of the fact. 



JEMIMA WIL1INS0X. 53 

Among those who visited her, some 
\vere proa pted by curiosity, mid others 
by a desire to learn whether she knew 
their secret thoughts; on their arrival, Je- 
mima would retire to her private apart, 
ment, on the second floor, leaving her as- 
sistants below to receive them. Here they 
were engaged in conversation ; s long as 
circumstances required, during which time, 
Jemima's instruments drew from them as 
much of the history of their private griefs, 
or whatever was uppermost in their minds, 
as they could obtain, which was always 
carefully and specifically related to Jemi- 
ma befere she gave audience to her visi- 
tors. By this contrivance, she was gene- 
rally enabled to satisfy them that she knew 
the object of their journey, what they had 
heard of herself, and in some instances, 
what they thought ; and she was rarely 
liable to err when she informed them how 
much they were surprised to find her able 
to divine their cogitations without any pre- 
vious conversation with then). By such 
tricks, ai;d various others, in which her at- 
tendants w?re well instructed as to the 
part they were to act, Jemima made her- 
self mistress of the affections and confi- 
dence of her submissive followers. 

Having establish! d a society, and ap- 
pointed two of her most able managers to 



54 MEMOIR OF 

superintend its welfare, she, in the spring 
of 17^5, returned to her old station in 
Rhode Island, after an absence of about 
nine months. On her arrival there, Je- 
mima found some symptoms of decay ; 
some had abandoned the society, and many 
were lukewarm, having almost recovered 
their senses. But by the activity and skil- 
ful management of their Priestess, the old 
order of things was soon restored She 
preached to them with increased animation, 
exhorted the faithful to persevere and the 
backsliders to return to their first love, and 
threatened the disobedient with the most 
terrible punishments. In the mean time, 
those who had returned with her from 
Pennsylvania, lost no opportunity of rela- 
ting the wonderful things she had per- 
formed during her absence, and the flatter- 
ins: prospects of the new society she had 
formed in that country. By these means, 
she soon surmounted all difficulties, ami 
rose in the estimation of her society still 
higher than before. 

A correspondence was now opened be- 
tween Jeminn and her Ministers in Wor- 
cester, by which the rno<t minute circum- 
stance which occurred in either of these 
places, was instantly transmitted to the 
other. It therefore frequently happened, 
that the events of that period were known 



JRMI1A WILKINSON. 55 

to the heads of these two societies before 
they came to the knowledge of the mem- 
bers, the substance of which was then sta- 
ted to them by way of prophecy. I his 
tended much to assist Jemima in keeping 
the ascendency in the minds of her follow- 
ers, so that she managed her concerns for 
about three years very successfully. 

But her agents at Worcester were not 
quite so fortunate They were younger 
(in jugglery at least) than Jemima, had less 
hardihood, and in passing off pretended 
mysteries and mummery they were alto- 
gether her inferiors. The society also, not 
believing them to be more than mere hu- 
man b insfs, stood in less fear of their au- 
thority. The Society became less fervent 
in their devotion to the interests of Jemi- 
ma, and less observant ol the duties incul- 
cated by her ministers, and some levity be- 
gan at length to make its appearance a- 
mong the younger part of the Society. Je- 
mima was regularly informed of these cir- 
cumstance*, and from time to time for- 
warded instructions accordingly. But at 
length, fearing an entire overthrow of her 
power and influence, she sent out one of 
her sisters to supersede the old Managers; 
one of whom was ordered home to Rhode- 
Island. She carne armed with- orders to 
institute a fast among them, in order to 



66 MRMHTK OF 

humble their pride and bring them back 
to a sense of their duty. The instructions 
of this new Missionary were privately sub- 
mitted to ths principal and most inftneu- 
tml of the Society, who were informed that 
she had also a dispensation from the Friend 
for such as had remained more steadfast in 
the faitf^ and steady in th Mr practice, and 
that the fast could be graduated according" 
to the merits and demerits of the members. 
They were accordingly classed off in de- 
tail, and ordered to fast, some three, some 
seven, some ten, and so on to forty days, 
upon a pound of bread and a pint of wa- 
ter per day. Particular caro, however, 
was taken, to inform the wealthy and most 
important members, whom they did not 
dare to disoblige by too much severity, for 
fear of losing them, that the Lord knew 
their hearts, that they were faithful, and 
the peculiar oSjicts of her love and affec- 
tion, and that the fast, as respected them, 
was altogether dispensed with, excepting 
so far as th«^y chose voluntarily to comply 
With it ; but in order that all the members 
might be satisfied, and submit to the 
Friend s authority without murmuring, it 
was indispensably necessary that they 
should, to all outward appearance, con- 
form strictly to the requisition, and not on 
any account suffer it to be known thai this 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 57 

indulgence had been granted them. This 
important and comfortable communication 
was privately and separately made to the 
favorite few, and each being flattered with 
the idea that he was the special object of 
the regard and indulgence of so great a 
personnge, tended considerably to increase 
their ifceal in her service, and induced them 
to obey strictly the injunction to appear to 
fast, and at the same time to keep secret 
the fact that they did not fast. But those 
who were less favored were compelled lor 
many days to subsist upon their scanty al- 
lowance; their strength became impaired, 
and their spirits broken down 5 they strove 
all in their power to make amends for past 
negligences, and convince the presiding 
Spirit of their entire devotion to the will 
and disposal of Jemima. This scheme 
was conducted with so much cunning and 
skill as to produce the desired effect. "The 
members became more orderly, and evin- 
ced more d votion than formerly, and, 
with few exceptions, yielded the most im- 
plicit obedience to the management and 
discipline of their new mistress. From 
this time the government and instruction 
of the Society remained in the hands of 
the sister of Jemima until the third arrival 
of the ' Universal Friend"' in Pennsyl- 
vania. 




58 MENHIR OF 

In the mean lime 'she superintend 
person the concerns of her New-England 
flock, but with less success than formerly. 
She therefore, in conjunction with some of 
her most enterprising followers, set on foot 
the project of removing: into the western 
part of the State of New- York, which was 
then a wilderness. Some funds were col- 
lected and arrangements made for effect- 
ing a purchase of new lands, on which to 
settle with such of her proselytes as were 
willing to follow her. In this enterprise 
Jemima exhibited more talent and mental 
forecast, than in any other act in her whole 
life. She had exhausted all her means of 
extending that delusion upon which alone 
she could r«ly for additions to her Society 
in that country, or even for retaining, for 
any considerable length of tim», those who 
then belonged to it. The increase of edu- 
cation, the spread of useful knowledge, 
and the consequent enlargement of the 
human mind which had succeeded to the 
dark and gloooiy period of the Revolution, 
had already checked the promulgation of 
her pernicious tenets, and threatened the 
final overthrow of her cause. To emi- 
grate with her followers into an entire 
wilderness, where, as she supposed, ihey 
would remain for a long time without the 
means of ordinary instruction, and in a 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 59 

great measure cut off from a constant in- 
tercourse wilh an enlightened community, 
seemed more likely to perpetuate her do- 
minion, and to promise the most probable 
means of rivetting the chains so effectually 
as to enable her to maintain her authority 
and secure lor herself a support among 
them dm itiur the residue of her life. 

The country being new and unsettled, 
wild and uncultivated lauds were cheap: 
a small fund wou'd therefore enable them 
to purchase a sufficient body of land for 
the whole Society, besides a select tract for 
the particular accommodation of herself, 
which, as the country gradually settled, 
would become valuable, aud in process of 
time constitute a handsome fortune. She 
accordingly exerted all the powers of her 
masculine mind for the accomplishment of 
this ohj ;ct, spoke in raptures of the de- 
lightful country of the Lakes, recounted 
all the flattering stories she had heard of 
the great fertility of the soil, and the ex- 
treme cheapness of the lands, raited it the 
" New-Jerusalem" flowing with milk and 
honey, and dwelt with great earnestness 
on the comfort and satisfaction hey should 
enjoy on retiring from the sneers and scoffs 
of a vain world, where the wicked won d 
"cease from troubling, and the weary find 
rest," by these arguments she easily pre- 




60 MEMOIR OF 

vailed on a part of the Society to adopt lifer 
plans The poor and needy, (about whom 
she cared the least) having little to fear 
from any change, were ever ready to fol- 
low her any where and on any conditions. 
Others fading the awkwardness of their 
situation, an account of the strange whims 
which they had a J opted, and heing fre- 
quently hard pushed for arguments to sup- 
port the opinions tfiey professed to enter- 
tain, seemed willing to relieve themselves 
from the difficulty and trouhle of thinking, 
by retiring to the forest, where they would 
have nothing to do but to cultivate the 
earth, and believe, in the doctrines, and fol- 
low the directions of their leader. An at- 
tempt was made to raise a fund to make a 
purchase foi the joint benefit of the Soci- 
ety. But with those whose acquiescence 
was most necessary, Jemima found more 
difficulty. Possessed of ample means of 
support for themselves and their families, 
and having lon£ been accustomed to those 
enjoyments which a highly cultivated 
country, and an improved state of society 
afford, they were unwilling to forego these 
advances and embark in an enterprise, 
the benefits of which were considered dis- 
tant and uncertain. Jemima who was 
rarely ever at a loss in devising ways and 
means for the accomplishment of her pur- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 61 

poses, soon hit upon an expedient by 
which the one thing needful was easily 
procured. One of her female coadjutors 
who had been left in charge of the Society 
at Worcester, had been recalled at or a- 
bout the time Jemima sent her sister there. 
This woman had been residing in the fam- 
ily of Mr. , then Treasurer of the 

State of Rhode Island, and a plan was laid 
and carried into execution, by these two 
worthy teachers of religion and morality, 
which enabled them to obtain a peep at 
the inside of the Treasurer's strong box, 
whence they took about two thousand dol- 
lars. The discovery of this robbery oc- 
casioned a great disturbance among some 
of Jemima's principal followers; search 
and inquiry were immediately set on foot, 
and Jemima fearing a criminal prosecu- 
tion against herself, as a participator in the 
crime, absconded in the night accompanied 
by two or three of her followers. She 
made the best ol her way to Worcester, in 
Pennsylvania, whither she had caused a 
part of the, money to sent for safe- keeping, 
where she arrived in the month of Decem- 
ber, seventeen hundred and eighty seven, 
with the residue of the booty. Messen- 
gers were immediately sent in pursuit — 
one of whom followed her to this retreat, 
where he overtook her almost at the mo- 



62 MKMOIR OF 

merit of her arrival, and holdly demanded 
the purloined money, and threatened an 
immediate exposure unless it was instant- 
ly £iven up. Joi-niiiKt denied all knowl- 
edge of the transaction with the most per- 
fect composure and hardihood ; hut her 
pursuer heinsr a resolute man ; was net to 
he satisfied with her assentations- that she 
had the money he was certain, and lie 
pushed the husiness or his journey with so 
much vijjor and firmness, that Jemima 
was compelled to submit the house to an 
immediate search, under such restrictions 
as should effectually preclude the possibili- 
ty of cancealinu; or removing the money. 
In this search, he found in one of Jemima's 
traveling trunks, eiirht hundred dollars, 
which she iravj up without hesitation, al- 
led^inff that it had been put there without 
her privity or consent, that it was not hers, 
that she knew not to whom it belonged, 
and if he claimed it he was welcome to take 
it. Finding no tr.ices of the residue of the 
money, he returned to Rhode-Island, leav- 
this holy sisterhood to regret the failure, 
in part, of a scheme, in the execution of 
which, they had hazarded so much, and 
from the avails of which they had intend- 
ed to purchase the land of promise. This 
was an unfortunate affair, as it involved 
the reputation of two or three wealthy and 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 63 

respectable families, and in order to save 
the innocent from nnmeiited disgrace, it 
became necessary to let the* guilty escape 
punishment. The business was therefore 
kept as still as possible, the balance of the 
money was paid by the friends of one of 
the persons implicated, and there the mat- 
ter ended. 

But the sudden and mysterious flight of 
Jemima produced great consternation a- 
mong the faithful. They recollected the 
solemn admonitions and affectionate fare- 
wells with which she had. on all former 
occasions, parted with them when about to 
visit the distatit brethren, and the appeals 
she had made to their sense of duty in re- 
gard to furnishing the necessary supplies 
for her journies. But now site was sud- 
denly missing, and whither she h<id gone, 
or for what purpose, no one could tell — 
all was darkness, doubt and difficulty. 
The facts, however, soon transpired, and 
so disgusted many of her followers that 
they immediately abandoned the Society. 
Some few, however, were so credulous as 
to believe the story a fabrication of evil 
minded persons, for the purpose of perse- 
cution ; and others disbelieved that part of 
it which charged Jemima with any agen- 
cy in the robbery. These retained their 
faith in her, and afterwards removed to 



64 MEMOIR OP 

Ontario county, where they met Jemima 
on her leaving Pennsylvania. The Soci- 
ety in Rhode- si and was effectually broken 
up, the residue of the memhers fell off and 
became scattered, having no head or lead- 
er, Jemima not daring ever alter to show 
her face among them. 

Thus ended the career of this canting: 
hypocrite in the State of Rhode-Island and 
its neighborhood, and with it, her minis- 
trations to a deluded people, whose credu- 
lity she had practiced upon almost beyond 
belief, and whose characters and fortunes 
she had wantonly jeopardized, to gratify 
the most sordid and insatiable avarice. 
Hut her history is not ended. New scenes 
of mockery, intrigue, consternation and 
flight, yet remain to be described, in which 
it will appear, that instead of profiting by 
the indulgence shown her in her late dilem- 
ma, she was maturing new plans of impos- 
ture and fraud, for the attainment of the 
object which she had long pursued with 
unremitting industry and perseverance. 

The gentleman who lollewed her to 
Pennsylvania in pursuit of the money, 
having secured what could be found, had 
no further business to transact with Jemi- 
ma and her household, and they being 
willing to dispense with his company, he 
had immediately left them to their medi* 



JEMIMA WIUUNSON. 65 

Cations. His visit was known to but few, 
and the object of it probably to none but 
Jemima and her confidants. This circum- 
stance therefore made no impression on her 
Society there, who were much rejoictd to 
have the " Public Universal Friend,' (as 
they called her,) a?ain aimtftftg them ; and 
when the story of her participation in the 
robbery, and her consequent flight, reach- 
ed them, it had trot so far from home, that 
it was easily contradicted and put down as 
the offspinof of malice and persecution, and 
tended rather to strengthen the bands 
which bound them to their folly, than to 
awaken a rational enquiry into the truth 
of an allegation of such a serious nature. 

J mnina now enquired' diligently into 
the state of the Society, and of the conduct 
and demeanor of the members, and having? 
received a specific account from her mill- 
isters who had remained with them, was 
at no ureal difficulty as to the course most 
expedient for er to pursue. Several of 
tlv members had shown some symptoms 
of levity in conversation, for which Jemi- 
ma lectured them with ejvat severity, and 
the m«>re efferti.mil v. to reform them, she 
ordered a -silent fitstf which consisted in 
refraining frfcjn speakttfg or lau^himr for 
a limit cl time. This p nance was, how- 
ever, conliued to the most garrulous, and 
F 



66 MEMOIR OF 

was srradiutted, as to its duration, from one 
to three days, as suited the whim or ca- 
price of Jemima. 

Some of the poor deluded creatures, in 
attempting to comply with this requisition, 
afforded considerable sport, to those who 
did not belong^ the Society, by breaking' 
the fast. One woman in | articular, who 
had been all her life accustomed to talk 
and laugh with impunity, and almost con- 
stantly, '•' broke her fast," as they termed' 
it, several times, and had to begin airain. 
Jemima at length ordered her mouth to be 
caled up with wafers and slips of paper, or 
linen rags. I5ut with this help, she en- 
dured the dreadful privation but a short 
time, some amusing circumstance coming 
suddenly within her observation, she ab- 
ruptly burst the bands of her s'avery, n ar- 
ed into a loud laugh, and declared she 
would not again attempt to hold her 
peace three days, for the Friend or any 
body else. Jemima reprimanded her with 
great severity and gn.vity, and ordered 
her immediately to resume her penance; 
but to no purpose, she absolutely refused, 
and told Jemima she was a fool to think of 
preventing any woman from talking or 
laughing for three days together; which 
so enraged Jemima, that she gave her a 
most violent scolding, and sent her back 
to Philadelphia where she found her,, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 67 

After Jemima had established her Soci- 
ety; at Worcester, she made it her business 
to become acquainted with the private his- 
tory of every family in the neighborhood. 
In the course of her enquiries, she learned 
that a woman who belonged to her Society, 
and who was a devoted follower, had giv- 
en offence to her father by marrying a- 
gainst his consent, in consequence of 
which, he had, by his will, excluded 
her from any participation of his ample 
fortune, which, at his death, he divided 
equally anions* his other children. On 
becoming acquainted with these facts, Je- 
mima laid a plan to obtain from them that 
portion which would have fallen to their 
sister, in case of equal distribution. As 
they were all members of the Society, sho 
summoned them before her, and with an 
air of gr.'at mystery, informed then that 
in a vision the preceding night, ste had 
seen their father, that he was in the regions 
of torment, suffering the punishment 
which had been i;iflict c d on him forexelu- 
ding his daughter from an equal partici. 
pation with them in his estates, and that 
he could never he relieved from those tor- 
ments until each of them paid her such 
sum^, either in money or in property, as 
would in the a^gre^ate, amount to an 
equal share of the estate he had left among 



68 Mtt'ftOIK OP 

(hem. She was a!s^ particularly request- 
ed to stale to them, that the old gentleman 
had appointed her guardian and trustee 
to their sister, * and that it was his e* press 
will and direction, that they should pay 
the amount to her for their sisters benefit. 
This last part of Jemima's message, which 
from its v«ry nature would have disclosed 
the cloven f »ot to anv person of common 
sense who was not under her fatal influ- 
ence, was rendered phmsihlehy the pretext 
that if the amount was paid to their sister, 
her hnshand, from whom she had parted 
on joining the Society, won d claim the pos- 
session of it ; and it was still the old iren- 
tleinan's v;ill, that Philip, his daughter's 
hnshand, should never have a farthing of 
his property. She then descanted largely 
upon the solemn obligation which they 
were under to do all in their power to re- 
deem their parent, from those dreadful 'tor- 
ments to which he was then subjected, and 
effectually convinced them, that to-refuse to 
comply with this requirement, would sub- 
ject them to a like punishment, for contm- 
ing the injustice which had been done to 
their sister. The consequence was, that 
they immediately compounded, by paying 
to Jemima the amount required, and in a 
few day-- after, they received from Jemima 
the joyful news, that their father was re- 



JKM1MA WILKINSON. 69 

lieved from his thraldom,' that his soul was 
at rest in ffa regions of bliss, and had sent 
his blessing to his dutiful children, who 
had so promptly contributed lo his relief. 

Philip was a barber by occupation, and 
resided in the city of Philadelphia, and al- 
though he had not been heart broken at 
the loss of his wile on their first parting, 
yet now that a due share of her father's 
fortune was paid her he thought her worth 
looking after. He soon after made a visit 
to Worcester, in the expectation of prevail- 
ing upon her to return and live with him ; 
but Jemima understanding perfectly his 
intentions, and not feeling disposed so soon 
to part with her ward and give an account 
of her guardianship, kept the wom&n out 
of h.s wav, gave poor Philip a rude recep- 
tion, and after lecturing him violently, 
sent him back as rich as he came. He af- 
terwards made various attempts to obtain 
an interview with his wife, but Jemima 
was too cunning, and always found means 
to defeat him. She always entertained 
the hope, that as long as he woman re- 
mained with her, he would not commence 
legal proceedings against her to recover 
the property ; but if her disciple left her, 
and returned to her husband, there would 
be no excuse for detaining it, and she 
would be obliged, in order to keep up e* 



70 memoir or 

ven the outward appearance of rommon 
honesty, to account for all she had receiv- 
ed, which by the by she was determined 
never to do. 

Philip was highly enraged at the treat- 
ment he received from Jemima, and 
threatened her with a prosecution for har- 
bjriug his wife, and also for detaining the 
property These threats gave Jemima a 
great deal of uneasiness, and kept her in 
constant dread of 'persecution" as she al« 
ledged. but in fac', it was justice, and the 
punishment which her misconduct mer- 
ited, which she stood most in fear of, and 
she soon after absconded in the night, in 
consequence of receiving information that 
her arrest and punishment was meditated 
by those who had suffered by her knave- 
ries. The history of this flight i? some 
what interesting on account of the ludi- 
crous ctrcunrtauces which led to, and at- 
tended it, and the awkward situation in 
which it placed Jemima. It also proves 
clearly the hypocrisy of her professions of 
religion, and betrays on her part a con- 
sciousness of guilt, which casts upon her 
moral and religions character, a deeper and 
more indelible stain than could have resul- 
ted from almost any other combination of 
circumstances, or the testimony of a multi- 
tude of witnesses, lier society was nu- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 71 

morons, and some of the members weal- 
thy, mid all were so devoted to her cause, 
and so deeply intercut* d in supporting nnd 
protecting the character and welfare ol the 
Society, with which those of Jemima were 
inseparably connected, (hat had shebeen 
arrested, they would have spared no pains 
or expense in defending her. Of this dis- 
position on their part, she Had already re- 
ceived ample proofs, and had she heen in- 
nocent, she would Iin vie holdly mcthttf ac- 
cusers, nnd triumphed in their defeat, 
which would lave added greatly to her 
consequence with her own people, and to 
her puhlie character as n divine. 

A young woman of good family and 
connection in Philadelphia, having previ- 
ously heen attached to Jemima, and be- 
lieving her sincere in her professions of 
religion, had left her family and friends, 
and joined the Society at Worcester. She 
was an intelligent and interesting person, 
and one from whose influence Jemima cal- 
culated to receive much assistance It 
was therefore ef some importance to Jemi- 
ma to retain this person in her Society; 
but from the integrity and correctness of 
the principles in which she had been edu- 
cated, Jemima foresaw that if she was too 
suddenly let into the mysteries and secrets 
of the cabinet, and virtue hat sense of diy 



72 



atEMoiR, or 



ty would take the alarm, and occasion her 
to abandon them altogether.*. Great pains 
were therefore taken to prevent h«r from 
discovering the true character of this wor- 
thy sisterhood , and the motives which 
governed their conduct. But the utmost 
art of Jemima could notions; impose uj>» 
on her understanding — she plainly saw 
through the specious veil which had con* 
cealed a system of hypoc isy, impudence, 
and avarice, and being disgusted with the 
indelicacy of their conduct in private, and 
shocked at the impiety of their pretensions 
in public, she resolved to leave them alto- 
gather. When this was nude known .to 
jemimn, she strove ail in her power to in- 
duce her to change her d termination, of- 
fered to givfc her the second station in the 
Society, painted in flowing colors the for- 
tune they wouid make by settling iu the 
Lake country, the ease and comfort which 
they would enjoy tjirough life, explained; 
to her the moans by which ; she governedr 
the Society wiili absolute swiy. and rep- 
resented that they were so devoted lo her, 
that .-they wouid not. onlv provide f»>r the 
support of herself and • household, but 
would ..dear their lands, which in time 
would become va'uahle —that a lan/eeou- 
gre^ration of her disciples would arrive in 
thatcountrv from the eastern stales, who 



jemiaia wft&iifacir. 73' 

together with those that would follow them 
from Pennsylvania, would compose a very 
large Society and form an immediate set- 
tlement of a considerable tract of country, 
and that her friend, if she would remain 
with her, should enjoy a lull moiety of all 
these advantages and privileges. But it 
was all to no purpose; the arguments and 
offers by which Jemima attempted to re- 
tain in her company this virtuous woman, 
tended only to open her eyes to the dan- 
gers with which she was surrounded, and 
to the frauds by which Jemima had con- 
trolled her deluded and cheated followers, 
She therefore without further ceremony or 
delay abandoned the Society, and return- 
ed to her friends in Philadelphia. 

Jemima experienced much ineonven. 
ience from the loss of this woman. She 
durst not denounce her as an apostate and 
reprobate, for she had trusted her too far 
and without doing this, she could not ac- 
count for her secession to the satisfaction 
of the Society, without jeopardising her 
own character; and besides, she still enter- 
tained hopes that her friend would return, 
and embrace the flattering offers which 
had been made her. She therefore per- 
mi* ted little to be said en the subject, and 
for a long time the major part of the Soci- 
ety supposed she had gone on a visit, or- 
G 



74 • MEMOIR OF 

on some mission from Jemima. In the 
spring following, however, Jemima deter- 
mined on making an effort to recover her 
lost friend. For this purpose she des- 
patched two of her most trusty and able 
negociators to wait on her, and endeavor 
to induce her to return to the Society. On 
the arrival of these messengers at Phila- 
delphia, they disclosed to the lady the ob- 
ject of their visit, accompanied with all the 
flattering prospects and promises which Je- 
mima had authorised them to hold forth, 
and adding how greatly she was beloved 
by the Society, how much her absence had 
been regretted by them, and how necessa- 
ry her return was to their comfort and 
happiness. But she was not to be won by 
these professions ; she had become effectu- 
ally weaned from her personal friendship 
for Jemima, and now abhorred the abom- 
inable practices by which she governed 
her spell-bound adherents ; and moreover, 
knowing somthing of Jemima's temper, 
and suspecting treachery, she would not 
again trust herself in the power ot one 
who she considered capable of any thing 
which promised success to her schemes of 
avarice and ambition. She also thought 
it extremely unfortunate for her followers, 
that they should be thus imposed on, by 
the wiles and machinations of a person 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 75 

who was so totally unworthy of their con- 
fidence. She had heard the story of the 
robbery in Rhode-Island, and was not al- 
together ignorant of Jemima's participation 
in the nefarious transaction. She also 
knew the history of her difficuties with 
Philip, the barber, and that she was in con- 
stant fear of a prosecution from him. She 
therefore conceived the idea of alarming 
Jemima on these subjects, and thereby pre- 
cipitating her removal to the western wilds 
before she could mature her plans for tak- 
ing her Society with her. Accordingly 
she listened patiently to the proposals of 
her visitors, and then in a very polite and 
friendly manner informed them, that she 
could not return with them — that although 
she had a great affection for the Society, 
yet she had concluded to remain with her 
friends, and as a testimony of her gratitude 
for their friendship and kindness, she would 
give them a piece of information which had 
come to her knowledge just before their 
arrival, and which was of great impor- 
tance to them all, and particularly to the 
" Universal Friend." She then informed 
them that Philip, the barber, had organ- 
ized a large party, end engaged the Sher- 
iff and Constables to accompany them to 
Worcester to bring away his wife and ar- 
rest Jemima, and bring her to Philadel- 



TO MBMOIR OF 

phia, and that after punishing her for har- 
boring his wife and detaining their prop- 
erty, he intended to deliver her over to the 
Sheriff of Providence, who, she said, was 
then in the city, waiting an opportunity 
of catching Jemima to carry her back to 
Rhode-Island, to take her trial for stealing 
the moivy found in her trunk on her last 
arrival at Worcester. She said they had 
gotten every thing in readines*, and would 
start th3 next morning, and therefore beg- 
ged her visitants to return with as much 
expedition as possible, and inform the 
friend of the danger which awaited her. 
This unwelcome news so alarmed these 
two noble embassadors, that they immedi- 
ately mounted their horses, and returned 
in full gallop to apprize their dear mistress 
oi the impending danger. The stone 
house was instantly in an uproar — Jemi- 
ma sent for her friend Mr, W. whose funds, 
teams and carriages were at her command 
on all emergencies : he ordered up a wag- 
on and horses, and about midnight Jemi- 
ma and two of her female coadjutors, with 
their baggage, under the care of a trusty 
driver, started for their " New- Jerusalem." 
Conscious gilt, and the consequent fear of 
punishment, rendered these fugitives al 
most frantic. Jemima in particular, who 
had the most to fear, constantly urged the 



JEMDOL WILKIN30N. 77 

I 

Privet to push his team, nor would she 
permit him to stop a moment for rest or re- 
freshment. They had a noble span of 
horses, and so diligently an'd vigorously 
did they prosecute their flight, that by 7 o'- 
clock the next morning they arrived at a 
creek called Bushkill, a distance of fifty 
miles from whence they started. But here 
n sad accident happened, which very near- 
ly cost the lives of the whole party, and 
effectually put an end to their journey. 

This creek, though a small one, had 
been swollen by recent rains, and now the 
•rapid current filled its banks and rendered 
the passage of our travelers altogeter im- 
practicable. On their arrival they halted 
for a moment, and called to an old man 
who was standing at a little distance from 
the opposite shore> and enquired whether 
they could ford the creek in safety? to 
which he replied in the negative; but mis- 
understanding his answer, and being goad- 
ed on by the fear of pursuit, they imme- 
diately entered the stream. The horses 
be^an to swim, the party became alarmed, 
and^emima, in an agony of vexation and 
fright, ordered the driver to stop the hors- 
es, which was no sooner done than the 
front wheels and axietree separated from 
the residue of the carriage, which, with 
the cargo, floated down the current, while 



78 MBM01B OF 

the driver and horses turned and came out 
of the water near where they had entered. 
The women scrambled out of the carriage, 
and one of them seized the friendly branch- 
es of a little willow which overhung the 
water, and drew herself to the shore. 
The driver plunged into the stream ort 
one side and the old gentleman on the 
other, and with great hazard and difficulty 
saved the other two. When they brought 
Jemima to the shore she was senseless, and 
it was not without great exertions that they 
could resuscitate her. In the interim, the 
trusty driver, who was also a disciple, 
and the two female companions of Jemi- 
ma's flight were in great perplexity; they 
began to apprehend that the spirit, which, 
according to the creed of the Society, had 
re-animated the body cf Jemima Wilkin- 
son, and which was to continue therein 
and reign a thousand years, had taken a 
permanent flight, and had left them the 
difficult task of accounting for her sud- 
den exit consistently with the character 
which they had ascribed to her. Their 
fears and sorrows however soon gave way 
to gladness and joy — Jemima began to ex- 
hibit symptoms of returning life, and their 
perseverance was at length crowned with 
the happiness of seeing her open her eyes, 
and hearing her inquire, in faint and trem- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 70 

ulous accents, what country they were in? 
They carried her to the house of the hos- 
pitable stranger, where she was taken such 
care of as her deplorable situation required, 
and his scanty means could furnish. The 
driver, with the assistance of the neigh- 
bors, regained the carriage, but the bag- 
gage of the travelers was almost entirely 
lost. 

Jemima had lain so long in the water in 
a state of insensibility that her health was 
materially affected; she was altogether 
unable to travel, and was therefore com- 
pelled, notwithstanding the fears which 
racked her terrified mind, to postpone the 
further prosecution of her journey until 
the next day. 

And here we will leave this worthy 
group, to the full enjoyment of those sen- 
sations which the adventures of the night, 
and the disasters of the morning, were 
calculated to produce, and the return to 
our friends at Worcester, who by this time 
are beginning to stand in great need of our 
immediate attention. 

Among the early followers of Jemima, 
was a young woman by the name of S& 
rah Richards^ who had left her husband 
and joined herself to the sisterhood. This 
person had been left in Rhode- Island, as a 
sort of administratix to arrange the unset- 



$0 MEMOIR OF 

tied business, both temporal and spiritual, 
of Jemima, which from the suddenness 
and secrecy of her flight, she had left in 
rather an unlucky predicament. Having 
'hastily patched up matters as well as cir- 
cumstances would admit of, Sarah had fol- 
lowed the footsteps of her mistress, and 
taking Philadelphia in her route, had ar- 
rived at Worcester the same day that Je- 
mima did at Bushkill. Sarah, on learn- 
ing the circumstances of Jemima's second 
-flight, was in as great distress as the oth- 
ers had been the night before, not howev* 
er from the same cause. Having passed 
through Philadelphia where all was quiet 
respecting Jemima, and the Sheriff not 
having made his appearance according to 
expectation, she saw clearly that it was all 
a mere farce — a hoax got up to test the 
power of Jemima to divine the secrets of 
men's hearts. Her object, therefore, now 
was, to get any information to her as soon 
as possible, and to hasten her return with 
■ill convenient speed, to assist in devising 
some mystery which might so cover the 
disgrace of her shameful flight, as to save 
appearances wi h the Society, and prevent 
that defection among them which a full 
developement of facts was calculated to 
produce. For this purpose she applied 
with great earnestness to their old friend 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 81 

s,nd supporter, Mr. W. But this man now 
for the first time, exhibited some symp- 
toms of sanity as respected Jemima and 
her pretensions, since his acquaintance 
with her. His fortune, which was ample, 
had become considerably impaired, and 
his business deranged, partly by neglect 
and partly from the enormous expenses to 
which, on her account, he had been sub- 
jected. Jemima had made her approach- 
es to the mind and the purse of this un- 
fortunate enthusiast, with such skill and 
address, and increased in her exactions so 
imperceptibly, that he had never found a 
convenient place to stop at until she had 
laid the foundatinn of his ruin. Daring 
the last residence of Jemima at Worcester, 
she and her household had subsisted en- 
tirely on his means. They enjoyed the 
use of his best dwelling, two of his farms 
with all the stock and utensils, and had 
in their employ the principal part of the 
time, from twelve to fourteen of his hors- 
es, with saddles, harness, carriages and 
wagons, without money and without price, 
and which they used with far less care and 
economy than is usual with the owners of 
such property. The clothing of Jemima 
and her principal women, was purchased 
almost exclusively with his money, and 
was of the finest and most expensive kind. 



82 MEMOIR Of 

By these means he had become involved 
in debt, and now began to experience dif- 
ficulties to which he had not previously 
been accustomed. These sat heavily on 
his mind, and the shock which his faith 
had received, on witnessing the frailty and 
flight of Jemima, had almost determined 
him to abandon her interests, and take 
care of his own. But Sarah Richards was 
persevering and vehement in her importu- 
nities. She painted in glowing colors the 
hardships and dangers to which the Friend 
would be subjected, by hurrying, without 
any previous preparation, from the walks 
of civilized man to the haunts of savages 
and wild beasts — the total overthrow of 
her influence among her Society, which 
was then large and flourishing, the dis- 
honor which would be brought upon her 
cause, in which he was interested in com- 
mon with herseif, and reminded him of 
the disgrace which would attach to him 
in the eyes of the Society, if he permitted 
her to proceed alter the deception had been 
detected ; and morover flattered him with 
the prospect of the great advancement 
which Jemima would vouchsafe to him, 
provided he would once more exert him* 
self for her benefit and relief; and so suc- 
cessfully did she appeal to his alternate 
hopes and fears, that the old gentlemau at 



JEMIMA WILKIN30JC. 83 

length began to waver, and finally con- 
sented to go in pursuit of the unforhmate 
fugitives. He mounted his best saddle 
horse early the next morning, and at even- 
ing alighted at the house of the honest old 
man, who had contributed to the preserva- 
tion and restoration of Jemima, and who 
was now heartily rejoiced at the prospect 
of being soon rid of his mendicant visitors. 
Jemima was much surprised and alarmed 
at first sight of her old friend, but a mo- 
ment's explanation dispelled her fears and 
raised her drooping spirits. She extolled 
the goodness of her friend, gave him her 
warmest thanks for all his kindness, and 
particularly this last instance of his disin- 
terested zeal for her welfare, in return for 
which she promised him future happiness 
without measure. 

The next morning the little party gath- 
ered up the remains of their baggage, 
which had been saved from the flood, and 
started for Worcester, whither they arrived 
the same evening, worn out with anxiety 
and fatigue. Jemima confined herself to 
her room until the Sabbath following, when 
she was obliged to appear in public and 
preach to the Society. But a great diffi- 
culty now arose: how was she to explain 
to her Society her unceremonious depart- 
ure, and equally sudden return ? The oc~ 



84 MEMOIR OP 

* casion of her journey too, and whither she 
had been? These were subjects upon 
which she knew her followers would ex- 
pect information, and upon which she felt 
very little inclination to be communicative; 
and moreover she and her two compan- 
ions had unfortunately lost their beaver 
hats, and had not had time to replace them 
with new ones, and they had always been 
accustomed to sit in their public meetings 
with their heads covered. Her skill was 

*put to the severest test ; but her prolific 
mind soon devised the means of surmoun- 
ting all difficulties. The teamsters and 
women who shared with her the fatigues 
and dangers of the journey, were charged 
to give no answers whatever to any inqui- 
ries which might be made on the subject 
of the journey, but to meet with a silent 
frown, every inquisitive word or look, and 
leave her to give such an account of the 
circumstances as she thought proper. 
When the meeting assembled, they found 
Jemima and her confidants with their 
heads bare, a circumstance which excited 
the wonder and compassion of her follow- 
ers, and the sneers and significant looks of 
the rest of her audience. She preached to 
the meeting as usual, exhorting them to 
" run with patience the race set before 
them," and to be strong in the faith, and 



JEMIMA WILKINSON, 85 

cautioned them against prying into mat- 
ters that did not concern their future wel- 
fare. The circumstances which occa- 
sioned her flight, and the if n toward acci- 
dent which terminated her journey, were 
known to but few, and these being inter- 
ested to silence, the whole assumed an air 
of mystery and began to pass off without 
much danger of exposure, and in about 
two weeks the Society settled down into 
the old beaten track, and began to wear 
the aspect of prosperity and contentment 
But from a circumstance which might ea- 
sily have been foreseen, the whole riddle 
was unfolded, to the no small chagrin and 
mortification of Jemima and the faithful; 
and to the great amusement of the unbe- 
lievers. 

The party on leaving Bushkill had offer- 
ed a reward often dollars for the recovery 
of the three beaver hats, (the original cost 
of which was about thirty dollar*,) and 
had left directions where the owners resid- 
ed. The old gentleman at whose house 
Jemima had tarried after her ducking, on 
making diligent search, after the flood had 
subsided, found the hats, and now made 
his appearance claiming the reward. But 
they had lain so long in the water that 
they were nearly ruined, and Jemima re- 
fused to ., pay the stipulated bounty; and. 



81 XRUOIR OF 

being now safe in the old stone house, fear- 
ing no danger from the furious current of 
Bushkil, she could easily dispense with any 
further acquaintance with the good man, 
from whom she had nothing further to 
expect ; she therefore ordered him to be 
dismissed without even vouchsafing him 
an audience. This so enraged the old 
gentleman, particularly the refusal to pay 
the promised reward, that he proclaimed 
Jemima's perfidy and ingratitude, together 
with a full history of this ludicrous adven- 
ture, throughout the whole neighborhood, 
and along the road as he returned home. 
However ungrateful this conduct might 
be considered on the part of Jemima, yet 
it was no less impolitic, as it occasioned a 
full development of her unfortunate and 
precipitate flight, under circumstances not 
very honorable to her character either as 
a moralist or a divine. Her followers were 
somewhat staggered in their belief of her 
divinity, and those who understood her 
true character, tauntingly reminded them 
of the proverb « the wicked flee when no 
man pursueth," <fcc. But Jemima was 
very grateful to her old friend Mr. W. for 
his signal services, in sending her off when 
she was in the agony for fear of au imme- 
diate arrest, and also for his prompti- 
tude in pursuing to bring her back, 
when it was discovered that no harm was 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 87 

to be apprehended ; she therefore, as the 
only reward she was able to bestow on 
him, loaded him with promises of prosper- 
ity in this world, and happiness in that 
which is to come, and omitted no opportu- 
nity of holding him up to the Society, as 
an example of disinterestedness and fideli- 
ty worthy of imitation. 

The cause of her sudden flight was 
known to but few, and these were enjoined 
secrecy, so that after awhile the idea be- 
came current in the Society, that she had 
been a journey on some important mission 
for the advancement of the general con- 
cern, and about which, they were given to 
understand, it did not become them to be 
too inquisitive. In this way her people 
soon became satisfied, and their affairs and 
business again resumed their former char- 
acter and complexion. Jemima however 
retained her malevolence against her for- 
mer friend, by whom her peace had been 
so much disturbed, and finding that she 
could not again get her into her clutches, 
and having no other means of punishment 
for her, she now denounced her as a rep- 
robate, against whom the doors of mercy 
were effectually closed, and cautioned her 
followers against falling from grace and 
favor as this wicked woman had done; 
bat she never thought fit to' inform them 



88 MEMOIR OF 

of the trick which had been practiced upon 
them by her. 

Sarah Richards was now promoted to 
the dignity v/hich had been intended' for 
her lost friend, was made prime minister 
to Jemima, and charged with the direction 
of the temporal concerns of the Society, a 
post which had been held at various times 
by differnt persons, but which Sarah occu- 
pied during the residue of her life. Some 
few of the Society who had never evinced 
much devotion, but who had attended her 
meetings merely for convenience or curi- 
osity, now saw through the thin veil in 
which the real character of Jemima was 
shrouded ; they most heartily ridiculed the 
farce recently acted by her and her favor- 
ites, and discontinued their attention to 
her altogether. But or: this, as on former 
occasions of miscarrige hi her projects, her 
devoted friends ascribed her ill luck to the 
malice and persecution of evil minded per- 
sons, who were determined to destroy their 
religion, and break up their Society; they 
therefore redoubled their zeal and exert- 
ions in testifying their unequalled confid- 
ence in Jemima, and devotion to her cause; 
so that in a little time, she became as firm- 
ly seated at the head of her flock, at Wor- 
cester, as she could have been had the cir- 
cumstances of her late adventure never; 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 89 

transpired. The concerns of the Society 
were satisfactorily arranged, confidence was 
restored, and peace and tranquility returned. 

Those of her Society who had followed 
her from Rhode-Island, were employed in 
cultivating the farms which were appro- 
priated to "their use, and domestic drudg- 
ery of the household ; while Jemima and 
three or four of the sisterhood, whose as- 
sistance in devising ways and means, was 
always necessary to her, were occupied in 
contriving schemes, for the good govern- 
ment of the flock, and in arranging mat- 
ters for their emigration to the Lake coun- 
try. 

In the month of April, 1789, every thing 
being arranged, the necessary provisions, 
clothing and money being furnished, Jemi- 
ma took her last and long farewell of the 
town of Worcester,, and bent her course far 
the land of promise, accompanied by a few 
of her followers, her trusty cabinet, coun- 
cil,- baggage, &.c. &c. 

In order to induce her followers and 
friends to accompany her into the wilder- 
ness, she had labored for several months 
with the utmost assiduity, frequently men- 
tioning the subject in her public discours- 
es and evening sittings, and on all occasions 
when matters of business were at all dis- 
cussed ; and never failed to paint the scen# 
H 



90 MEMOIR DF 

in the most captivating colors. She called 
it the "New Jerusalem," the " land of prom- 
ise, flowing with milk and honey;" where 
the faithful would enjoy every gratifica- 
tion without interruption or molestation; 
where their hopes would be realized and 
their fears banished ; where they should 
meet with a reward for all their toils, their 
sufferings and troubles ; where they should 
be relieved from the scofls, the sneers and 
ridicule of the servants of the devil ; where 
the world's people could not come among 
them, or disturb their repose; in short, 
where peace and tranquility should reign 
uninterruptedly, their wants be provided 
for, and their utmost wishes gratified to the 
endof their lives* These high wrought 
descriptions, together with the information 
these .people had received from other 
sources, respecting what was then called 
the Genesee country, operated powerfully 
upon the minds of many, and occasioned 
considerable emigrations from that neigh- 
borhood about this period and for some 
time after. 

Jemima and her retinue travelled by 
land to Wilksbarre, on the Susquehannah 
river, where they chartered a boat, in 
which they came from thence by water to 
Newton, (Elmira,) in Tioga county. She 
had agreed to pay the boatman a stipulated 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 91 

price, besides the services of two young 
men, who came with her, to assist him in 
setting his boat against the current, which 
was of consequence to him, as he needed a 
greater number of hands in ascending than 
in descending the river. On their arrival 
at Newtown, Jemima and Sarah Richards 
conspired together to cheat him out of a 
part of the stipulated price, by charging 
him twenty dollars for the services of the 
two young men, and by refusing to pay 
him any thing unless he would allow that 
charge. The boatman, indignant at such 
an unworthy contrivance, threatened to 
prosecuted Jemima and Sarah immediate- 
ly, unless his account was paid in its fullest 
extent. They thereupon called the young 
men into a private room, and informed 
them that the boatman had agreed to allow 
for their services, twenty dollars out of the 
price for bringing the cargo, and that they 
expected to prove this fact by them. But 
they told Jemima and Sarah, that they had 
understood the bargain to be precisely as 
stated by the boatman. This reply was 
instantly silenced with a severe frown and 
positive contradiction from Jemima, and 
they were ordered to go immediately to 
Mr. S. (the only magistrate then in that 
part of the country,) who lived about a 
mile and a half distant, and to inform him 



92 HEttOXft OF 

that the boatman was endeavoring to cheat 
Jemima, and to state to him. that if a- pros- 
ecution was brought thjy wduld swear ? 
on the trial, that for their services a deduc- 
tion of twenty dollars was to be made for 
the price originally agreed on. This in- 
junction of these two profligate women, 
was enforced in the sternest manner, and 
with a threat of their utmost displeasure 
should they, in their statement to the ma- 
gistrate, fail short one tittle from the in- 
structions they had received. 

The parents and friends of these unfor- 
tunate young men, had belonged to the so- 
ciety for many years, and they themselves 
had been educated in the faith of Jemima's 
creed, had been with her and in her em- 
ployment almost from their infancy, had 
been taught to yield implicit obedience to 
her commands, and had been sent on with 
the Friend and her retinue, to assist them 
on their way. They were now about 
eighteen years of age, totally inexperi- 
enced, in a wilderness, far removed from 
succor, and altogether dependent upon Je- 
mima for support; to retain which they 
were required to perjure themselves, in 
order that she might succeed in the at- 
tempt she was now making to defraud the 
honest laborer of his hire. Their reflec- 
tions were therefore not of the most pleas- 



JEMIMA. WILKINSON. 93 

ant kind, as they pensive pursued their 
way towards the magistrate; and what 
heightened their perplexity was, that both 
were determined never to perform the task 
assigned* them, or any part of it, and each 
was at the same time ignorant of the oth- 
er's thoughts, and was afraid to break si- 
lence for fear his companion should not 
agree with him, and he should therefore 
be turned adrift, alone and in a wilderness; 
But to quit Jemima together, in case of ex- 
tremity, would be far less distressing than 
to perform what she required of them. 
Having travelled some distance, they seat- 
ed themselves on a log by the Way side to 
rest; after exchanging a few significant 
looks, one of them said to his companion^ 
" 1 had rather go back than to proceed any 
further;" and to his great relief, the other 
immediately reciprocated the same senti- 
ment, and thereupon an explanation took 
place between them. They proceeded, 
however, and called on the magistrate, 
who received and entertained them very 
hospitably— gave them a good dinner, and 
answered all their enquiries respecting the 
new country. They then returned to 
their mistress, with a full determination 
to leave her instantly, if she censured them 
for disobeying their commands. On their 
arrival, Jemima enquired as to the success 



94 MEMOIR OF 

of their mission, and received for answer, 
that they knew very well that the boatman 
was entitled to his money, that they had 
not troubled themselves or the magistrate 
on the subject, and that she might settle 
with him as she pleased, but must not 
call on them as witnesses. Jemima imme- 
diately told them to say nothing further on 
the subject, and she would pay the rascal 
and let him go about his business, which 
was instantly done, and there the matter 
ended. 

Jemima in a few days after found means 
to convey her goods and chatties to the 
tract of land, which was purchased for her 
about this time, in the neighberhood of the 
Seneca and Crooked Lakes, where she 
had the pleasure of meeting with a num- 
ber ot her disciples and followers from 
Rhode-Island. From this time forward, 
considerable accession to the Society took 
place, by the emigration of her friends 
from New-Kngland and Pennsylvania, un- 
til their numbers were estimated at about 
a hundred souls. 

In looking back through the career of this 
extraordinary woman, it is worthy of re- 
mark,that by her extravagance, her decep- 
tionsand frauds/she nearly ruined her best 
friends and most wealthy followers, both 
in New*England and Pennsylvania 



JEMIMA WiifclXsON. 9h 

*The gentleman, in whose house she for 
a long time resided, in North-Kingstown, 
and from whom she received the great- 
est hospitality and kindness, found him- 
self so embarrassed, and his affairs so de- 
ranged, after the elopement of Jemima 
from that country, that he was obliged to 
sell his plantation, to extricate himself 
from his debts and difficulties. The rob- 
bery of the treasury added much to those 
difficulties, for Jemima had so managed 
that business as to implicate a connexion 
of his family in that foul transaction, to 
save whom, and the credit of his friends, 
he was obliged to repay the money, with 
the exception of what was found in Jemi- 
ma's trunk at Worcester. This gentleman 
collected together the wreck of an ample 
fortune, and with his family removed to 
the County of Ontario, near the Crooked 
Lake, soon after she absconded from Rhode 
Island. With Jemima's devoted friend, 
Mr. W. of Worcester, it fared still worse. 
Hurried on from one step to another, with- 
out sufficiently reflecting upon the conse- 
quences which must necessarily ensue, the 
foundation of his ruin was laid before he 
was aware of it His property was dissi- 
pated, his business deranged, and himself 
loaded with debt which he could not dis- 
charge without sacrificing his real estate 



96 MEMOIR OF 

which consisted of three very large and 
valuable farms, in a high state of cultiva- 
tion, and capable of yielding a handsome 
revenue. After striving for nearly three 
years to redeem his shattered fortune, he 
at length sunk under the pressure of his 
embarrassments. He disposed of all his 
property, and with the little pittance that 
remained after paying his debts, followed 
Jemima to the "land of promise." The 
embarrassments into which many others 
were led, in consequence of their connex- 
ion with this Society, compelled them to 
dispose of their property, and retire into 
the new country, where lands could be ob- 
tained cheap, and where by industry and 
economy, they have since obtained very 
handsome estates. 

Jemima gave that part of the country in 
which they settled, the name of Jerusalem, 
and lost no time in organizing her Socie- 
ty under the old discipline, and soon had 
the satisfaction of seeing her prospects be- 
gin to brighten. From the wreck of the 
two old Societies, and the few additions 
from the early settlers in her neighborhood, 
her followers became more numerous, and 
being far removed from the means of re- 
ligious instruction, excepting what her 
teaching afforded, they were more easily 
governed, than at any farmer period of 
her ministry. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 97 

They generally purchased lands, and 
held them in their individual rights, each 
bein£ the separate possessor and owner of 
whatever he brought with him or after- 
wards acquired. The common-stock pro- 
ject was abandoned, and instead thereof, 
voluntary donations and contributions 
were substituted, and paid in money, la- 
bor, cattle, and other personal property, ac- 
cording to the ability and inclination of the 
members of the Society. 

Sarah Richards had some money of her 
own, which, together with what Jemima 
had obtained by pretences and practices 
which need not be again described, was 
laid out in the purchase of lands, and some 
donations in lands were also made, so that 
the tract selected and purchased for Jemi- 
ma and the sisterhood, amounted to about 
fourteen hundred acres. This tract was 
extremely well chosen, being in a health- 
ful and pleasant situation, the lands hav- 
ing generally an eastern and southern as- 
pect, finely wooded with the sugar maple, 
occasionally interspersed with the majest- 
ic oak and lofty pine, and the soil of the 
first quality for agriculture. As it suited 
the convenience of Jemima to appear to 
have nothing to do with matters of busi- 
ness, and to have her attention altogether 
turned from worldly to spiritual concerns 

I 



ii 



flft MEMOIR OF 

the deeds for these tracts of land were exe- 
cuted to Sarah Richards, who was to be 
Considered the trustee of Jemima and the 
sisterhood. 

Sarah continued the ostensible owner of 
the property, and had the general direction 
of the business of the establishment, which 
Was conducted in her name, until her 
death, which happened in the year 1794. 
At her death she willed the principal part 
of her property to Rachel Malin, a re- 
spectable young woman who had resided 
some years in the family of Jemima. 

The Members of the Society purchased 
their lands in severalty, and located them- 
selves where the situation and quality of 
the soil suited them best, without regard 
to the immediate vicinity of their mistress. 
The lands selected for the accommodation 
of Jemima were situated on a gentle de- 
clivity near the head of the west branch of 
Crooked Lake, and about twelve miles 
west of the Seneca Lake. She remained 
among her followers until a dwelling was 
erected and sufficient improvements made 
to enable her family to support themselves 
without an immediate reliance upon the 
members of the Society. Her household 
now consisted of Sarah Richards and her 
daughter Eliza, Rachel Mai in, and four or 
five male and nine or ten female domes- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 99 

tics, in all about eighteen persons. These 
servants were men, women and girls, who 
had, in the excess of their devotion, given 
themselves entirely up to the governance 
and control of Jemima, doing all her 
drudgery both within and without, being 
content to receive for their services a mere 
subsistence in addition to the happiness of 
being near the beloved Friend. 

Besides the assistance she derived from 
the labor of these persons in clearing and 
cultivating her farm, she received dona- 
tions in labor every year to a considerable 
amount from the other members of the So- 
ciety. In fact it was, for many years after 
their settlement in Jerusalem, a standing 
rule amonof them to turn out and gratui- 
tously plant and hoe the Friend's com. 
sow and reap her wheat, and cut and gath- 
er in her hay, even in preference to attend- 
ing to similar concerns for themselves. 
On these occasions they were accustomed 
to meet on a day appointed, bringing with 
them their provisions and teams; and it 
was often a matter of emulation amongst 
them who should be on the ground first in 
the morning, insomuch that it happened 
not unfrequently that even those who had 
several miles to travel, arrived by the 
time it was light enough to commence 
their labors. The moment their work 



100 M.KMOJLR OF 

was done, they retired quietly to their re- 
spective homes, taking care to give Jemima 
no trouble orexpense, nor by any means to 
convey the idea that she had received any 
thing- to which she was not entitled, or 
that they had done ought but their duty. 
There is not to be found, perhaps, in the 
annals of human society, an instance of 
such strict, uniform and persevering fidel- 
ity and devotion to any leader, as was 
shown by these people to Jemima. What- 
ever inconsistencies or absurdities they 
might be guilty of in other respects, in this 
one thing they were uniform and consist- 
ent. As to the motives or incentives 
which induced them to the constant ac 
quiescence in, and performance of, thesi 
duties, it would be difficult to determine, 
and is perhaps not material ; but it is a 
fact, that their conduct in this respect, (if 
in no other,) corresponded precisely with 
their professions, so that to be thought even 
tardy in their performance of these tasks 
was considered by themselves as deroga- 
tory to their character and standing in the 
Society. In this manner Jemima's inter- 
ests were promoted, and her wants provid- 
ed (or, according to the plan she had ori- 
ginally laid on turning her attention tc 
the Genesee country. She derived a great 
advantage also from another circumstance, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON, 101 

which was probably a strong inducement 
to her to attempt removing her family and 
Society into the wilderness. It turned 
out as she had correctly anticipated/ that 
the early settlers in many parts of that 
country were for a long time deprived of 
the ordinary means of religions instruction 
or of educating their children ; she there- 
fore had time effectually to confirm her 
followers in the belief of those tenets 
which she had taught them ; whereby she 
was enabled to govern them with uncon- 
trolled sway, and to draw from them the 
means of an easy and comfortable suj port, 
during the residue of her life. 

Shortly after settling in Jerusalem, Je- 
mima conceived the idea of converting the 
Indians to the faith of her divinity, and on 
several occasions made advances towards 
them for that purpose. Had she posses- 
sed or pursued any rational system of reli- 
gious and moral instruction, her attempts 
to civilize and christianize them would 
have been praise-worthy, and success in 
her labors would have benefited this un- 
fortunate race of human beings. But con- 
sidering the nature of the faith in which 
she would have instructed them, it may 
be considered problematical whether they 
would have gained much by her teaching* 

When the treaty was held with the In- 



102 MEMOIR OF 

dians at Canandaigua, she repaired thith- 
er, and while the Commissioners and their 
assistants were engaged with the Sachems 
and Warriors in deep consultation, she 
suddenly entered the Council Hall, and 
without any previous notice or introduc- 
tion, commenced praying most vehement- 
ly. The abrupt enterance of Jemima, and 
the temporary suspension of business, 
gave great umbrage to the Indians, who 
testified their impatience and dissatisfac- 
tion, by sneers, frowns and grimaces. 
The Sachems and head men of the tribes, 
were not accustomed to interruption in 
their deliberations, particularly from wo- 
men. Those of minor consideration, who 
took no part in the negociations, together 
with the squaws and pappooses, were bu- 
sily examining and admiring blankets, 
knives, beads, jewels and other trinkets > 
brought here as presents for them, and a- 
bout which they cared much more than 
for Jemima's prayers. Her presence was 
therefore exceedingly offensive to them 
all. Having ended her long prayer, or 
rather harangue, she attentively surveyed 
her auditors, in order to discover what ef- 
fect it had produced upon then ; but her 
mortification was equal to her disappoint- 
ment, on finding that the moment she ceas- 
ed speaking, the assembly resumed theiit 



JEMIXA WILKIN80N. lQfi 

business without taking the least notice of 
her or her company. She therefore left 
them immediately, and returned to her 
much beloved and far more deluded fol- 
lowers in Jerusalem, pondering deeply up- 
on the ungracious reception she had met 
with, and vainly endeavoring to divine 
the causes of that obstinacy which she 
had discovered among the poor Indians. 
To gain their attention and confidence 
had been with her a favorite object since 
her arrival in the country, and she had 
accordingly embraced the first opportuni- 
ty. Her ill success in this enterprize, did 
not, however, discouraged her from mak- 
ing a further effort. These people were 
mostly ignorant of the principles of the 
christian religion — were fond of novelty, 
and by perseverance she might gain their 
confidence, and in process of time inveigle 
them into a grant of some of their valua- 
ble lands. She would moreover gain 
great celebrity by converting the savages, 
and in that way, add considerable to her 
remown as a prophet. For these or some 
other reasons, perhaps equally cogent, she 
determined on embracing the next oppor- 
tunity for a similar attempt. 

The treaty which was held by the In- 
dians at Newtown, was attended by a dep- 
utation from the Oneidas, a considerable 



104 MEMOIR OF 

party of whom traveled by water, and in 
passing up the Seneca Lake they encamp- 
ed and spent the Sabbath at a place called 
IN orris' Landing, in the immediate neigh- 
borhood of a part of Jemima's settlement. 
She seized this opportunity of preaching 
to them, and in the course of her address, 
attempted to persuade them that she was 
Jesus Christ, their Savior. The audience 
listened to the speaker apparently with 
great attention. When she had finished 
her discourse, one of their party rose and 
delivered a short and animated address to 
his countrymen, in their own language. 
Jemima having seated herself beside the 
Interpreter, who accompanied the Indians, 
desired him to explain to her the language 
of the speaker. When the Indian had end- 
ed his discourse, he enquired of the inter- 
preter what the conversation had been be- 
tween him and his white sister, and on be- 
ing informed that she had requested an in- 
terpretation of his words, he fixed his eye 
sternly upon her, and pointing his finger, 
said in broken English, "Me think you 
are no Jesus Christ if you don't know what 
poor Indian say — he know what Indian 
say as well as any thing," and immediate- 
ly turned contemptuously away from her, 
and neither he nor any of his party took 
any further notice of her. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 105 

Whatever ideas these people might have 
entertained on the subject of religion, they 
had too much sagacity to believe in a Sav- 
ior who could not understand their lan- 
guage. This occurrence has been mi- 
nutely detailed here, because the substance 
of it has been related with many varia- 
tions ; and the detection of Jemima's im- 
posture by the cunning of an Indian, who 
addressed her in his own dialect, has been 
erroneously ascribed to the celebrated In- 
dian chief Ked Jacket. 

As the settlement and cultivation of a 
new country increases the value of wild 
lands, those who possessed prudence and 
forecast readily perceived the advantages 
which would result from securing to them- 
selves as extensive tracts as their means 
would enable them. This subject was un- 
derstood by no one better than by Jemi- 
ma, nor was any one more eager to profit 
by the early acquirement of freehold es- 
tates. But as her funds were nearly ex- 
hausted, and the contributions hereaiter to 
be expected from her followers were to be 
paid in labor and specific articles, it was 
extremely difficult for her to raise money 
for making new purchases. A variety of 
expenditures were therefore resorted to, 
with the view of adding to her dominions, 
in which she met with little success, it 



106 MEMOIR OF 

happened, however, that in one or two in* 
stances, considerable bequests in landed 
property were made to her by her followers, 
to whom she had access during their last 
illness, but from the want of legal skill in 
those who drew the wills, and their reluc* 
tance to call in the assistance of profession- 
al men, these grants were inoperative, and 
the lands afterwards descended to the heirs 
at law of the testators. In one instance, 
an extensive and valuable tract of land 
was willed to the "Universal Friend's So- 
ciety ;" but as this Society, not being a 
body corporate or politic, was incapable of 
receiving a grant, the heirs of the donor, 
some years after his decease, went into 
possession of the premises, and Jemima, 
on consulting her Counsel, and finding 
she had no title to the property, either at 
law or in equity, abandoned her claim to 
one of the best speculations of her whole 
life. 

Sarah Richards possessed some lands 
which she had purchased, and held as 
private property, independently of, and 
unconnected with, the estates which she 
held in trust for Jemima, the latter of 
which she devised by her will, to Rachel 
Malin, and the former to her daughter E* 
liza. Some time after the death of Sarah, 
Eliza Richards becoming disgusted with. 



JKMmA WILXIN80X. 107 

the monotenous and slavish service of her 
mistress, sought refuge from the tyranny 
of Jemima, in the arms of a husband — 
which so exasperated the old lady, that, 
notwithstanding her former obligations to 
Sarah Richards, and the fondness and 
friendship which she had professed for 
Eliza, she became from that mom nt her 
irreconcilable and deadly enemy. After 
interdicting matrimony among her follow- 
ers, she had alwavs considered the mar- 
riageof any of her disciples as an act of 
separation from the Society, and as a fall 
from grace, and denounced them as here* 
tics accordingly. But in this instance, it 
was not the mere violation of one of the 
fundamental articles of her strange creed 
which excited her enmity; she had placed 
her avaricious eye upon the property of 
this unhappy orphan, and fondly hoped 
to retain her under her charge until' she 
arrived at an age which would enable her 
to convey her lands, when she intended f 
by threatsor flattery, to induce Eliza to add 
her inheritance to the fortune of the " Uni- 
versal Friend." But the marriage of this 
person effectually frustrated her schemes, 
and placed the property forever beyond 
her reach, unless she could invent some 
new fraud whereby she might obtain pos* 
session of it. 



108 MEMOIR OF 

The Will of Sarah Richards was still 
in her possession, and ah attempt was 
made so to alter it, as to divert the devise 
from Eliza to another person. A contro- 
versy afterwards arose in relation to some 
of the property mentioned in the Will, 
which rendered its production at the trial 
necessary, when the alteration was detect- 
ed, which would have destroyed its validi- 
ty, had not that alteration been adjudged 
to be in itself immaterial. Thus the igno- 
rance of those who undertook this forgery 
saved Jemima from the loss of what was 
really intended to be given her. 

Although she pretended to devote her- 
self entirely to spiritual concerns, and to 
be altogether abstracted from the business 
of this world, yet her appetite for gain was 
probably as sharp as that of any other per- 
son. Indeed, such was her avarice, and 
so irregular was the manner in which her 
secular concerns were conducted, that she 
became involved in a variety of legal con- 
troversies, and the last sixteen years of her 
life were spent in a continued series of lit- 
igation. The suits, it is true, were neith- 
er prosecuted nor defended in her name, 
yet it is not to be supposed for a moment 
that she was not the real party litigant, or 
that it was not her interests exclusively 
which were to be injured or promoted by 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 109 

the result. It would perhaps be unreason- 
able to suppose her always in the wrong, 
or that chicanery was not sometimes re- 
sorted to by her opponents, :u these con- 
tests for property. But the cunning and 
management of this crafty woman, and 
the blmd devotion of her disciples, were 
such that had she understood the legal ef- 
fect of instruments in writing, the forms 
of law, and what was necessary to be 
■ proved, as well as she did the government 
of her flock, she must have been a most 
potent adversary to contend with. Indeed 
it has been often remarked in her vicinity, 
that whenever she could anticipate what 
I was necessary to be substantiated on an 
approaching trial, she was sure to furnish 
the means, from among her followers, to 
prove it. The propriety and force of this 
remark will be at once appreciated by all 
those who have attended their trials for a 
series of years, and seen the gross perjuries 
which have been committed by interested 
and stubborn witnesses. Oaths, it is said, 
have become, in latter years, much cheap- 
ened, and from the great multiplicity of 
3 cases wherein they have been rendered ne- 
cessary by law, their sanctity has proba- 
bly been much impaired. But with some 
of the followers of Jemima, it appeared to 
be a matter of course, to affirm (swearing 



110 MEMOIR OF 

being prohibited by their religion) accord- 
ing to the directions which she gave them. 
It happened not unfreqaently, that she 
would summon before her those whom she 
intended to employ as witnesses on an ap- 
approaching trial, and detail to them, with 
the utmost minuteness, the facts and cir- 
cumstances to which they must affirm; 
and, in order that they might be able to re- 
member, and attest distinctly to all she 
had instructed them to say, she would 
compel them to repeat their lesson to her, 
until they could do it with sufficient ex- 
actness and fluency to answer her purpose. 
Moreover, to strengthen them in the be- 
lief, that it was their duty to testify as she 
had bidden them, she would state to them, 
that they m'/sl know that the facts were 
as the Friend had told then), that they 
had "the word of the Lord for the truth of 
them," and that they need not be afraid of 
men, who would not hurt them for testi- 
fying as she directed them, that "man 
could, at most, only kill the body, but the 
Lord could kill the soul." 

The effects of this cabinet dicipline have 
been often seen on the trial of causes in 
which the " Friend," or some favorite fol- 
lowers, was interested. On one of these 
occasions, a young woman, belonging to 
the Society, was produced as a witness, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. Ill 

Who affirmed to the existance of certain 
facts which, if true, would entitle the de- 
fendant, who was also a follower, to a ver- 
dict. To rebut this evidence, a sister of 
hers, who did not belong to the Society, 
was sworn, whoso testimony was in direct 
contradiction to that of the other, and was 
so strongly corroberated by that of other 
witnesses, and a variety of circumstances, 
as to satisfy the audience of the truth of 
her statement. Yet such was the hardi- 
hood and determined purpose of the de- 
fendant, and such the preparation which 
had been made to meet all emergencies, 
that he introduced the mother of the two 
witnesses to prove that the one who had 
testiQed against the interests of the defend- 
ant was so great a liar that no reliance 
could be placed upon any thing she might 
say. This graceless task the unblushing 
and unfeeling mother performed with ap- 
parent satisfaction, and with such eager- 
ness to blast the character of her daugh- 
ter, as to destroy, in a great measure, the 
effect she intended to produce, and to dis- 
close most clearly the foul means which 
had been resorted to for the purpose of en- 
abling the defendant to escape justice. 
This must undoubtedly have been the o- 
pinion of the Jury, as they, without diffi- 
culty, returned a verdict for the plaintiff. 



112 MEMOIR OF 

On another occasion one of the faithful 
was drawn as a Juror into a ,very impor- 
tant cause, depending against one of the 
brethren, on a promissory note given by 
him for a debt of Jemima's. This mm 
was apparently near sixty years of age, 
and one of the most venerable and holy 
looking men in the Society. His grisly 
beard, his hard and weather beaten coun- 
tenance, his broad drab coat, with huge 
pockets dangling against his thighs, and 
long slouch underjacket, approaching his 
knees, seemed to look down from their 
proud eminence upon the wicked worldly 
lash ions with which they were surrounded; 
and together with his sanctimonious longi- 
tude of face, were sufficient to convince a 
stranger that he had not committed a solita- 
ry sin in more than half a century. On an- 
swering to his name, he was objected to 
by the council for the plaintiff, on the 
ground of his having declared his opinion 
that " the note upon which the suit was 
brought was a forgery," — that "the de- 
fendant was not indebted to the plaintiff,' 7 
and that "the plaintiff ought not to recov- 
er a verdict against him." Old Primitive 
was :hen put upon his affirmation, and in- 
terrogated by the Chief Justice as to his 
having made such declarations, or any 
others of a similar import, to all of which, 



JKMIMA WILKINSON. 113 

he promptly answered in the negative, 
with a steady and firm voice, with unva- 
rying features, and rigidity of countenance 
which resembled the face of a brazen im- 
mage. The Juror having thus purged 
himself of all biass and prepossession 
touching the matter to be tried, the Judge 
overruled the objection, and the plaintiff 
thereupon submitted to a non-suit, rather 
than proceed in the trial with a man on 
the jury who was predetermined never to 
agree to a verdict against the defendant ; 
and the next day the Grand Jury (then in 
session) presented a bill of indictment a- 
gainst old Primitive, for perjury, commit- 
ted by him in answering to those inter- 
rogatories, which indictment was founded 
upon the oaths of three gentlemen of re- 
spectability for veracity, who heard him 
make all those declarations not two hours 
before he was called upon and denied them 
under the sanction of his affirmation. On 
the trial of this indictment, the miserable 
old man made a technical escape from jus- 
tice, being acquitted in consequence of the 
non-production of a record of the cause, 
pending the trial of which the perjury had 
been committed. 

To detail all the various litigations and 
controversies in which Jemima was em- 
broilod for many years, some of which re- 

K 



114 MEMOIR OF 

mained unsettled at the time of her death, 
would be a tedious and almost endless task. 
Enough has already been stated to show 
that notwithstanding all her pretentions- to 
abstraction from worldly cares and consid- 
erations, she possessed an almost insatiable 
thirst for wealth, without much regard to 
the means by which it was to be acquired. 
It was the custom of Jemima, in the ear- 
ly part of her career, to preach to the flock 
twice in each week, besides attending on 
funerals and other extraordinary occasions. 
Her stated days for holding meetings were 
Saturdays and Sundays, the latter of which 
was considered more particularly as sacred 
time, and strictly observed as such ; but 
Saturday was treated as a day of relaxa- 
tion from business, to attend meetings, hear 
lectures and moral discourses the better to 
prepare their minds for the more solemn 
devotions of the Sabbath ; but they were 
not required to abstain altogether from sec- 
ular concerns. On her settlement in this 
country, however, she pretended to discov- 
er that the seventh day of the week, or 
" what the world calls Saturday," was the 
real Sabbath, and that part of time which 
ought to be kept holy and occupied exclu- 
sively in exercises of piety and devotion. 
This she said was revealed to her immedi- 
ately from Heaven, in a vision ; the strict- 



JBMIMA WILKIXSON. 115 

est observance of this new item in her 
creed was therefore required ; yet she still 
held public meetings on the Sabbath, " in 
compliance with the customs of the world. 71 
She also instituted " evening sittings," as 
they were called. These were held every 
evening in the week, or as often as the 
members chose to assemble at her house. 
On these occasions liberty was given for 
any one to speak who felt disposed ; but it 
rarely ever happened that any of her tribe 
would venture to preach in her presence, 
so that generally their "evening sittings" 
broke up without a word being said by a- 
ny one of them. These were called " mute 
meetings," and were, without doubt, ex- 
tremely edifying, for by persevering in an 
uninterrupted silence for an hour to- 
gether, an excellent opportunity was af- 
forded for reflection and contemplation, 
while they were in no danger of being led 
astray by the mistakes of their teacher. 

Having succeeded in establishing a So- 
ciety, respectable in point of numbers^ who 
were devoted to her interests, and uncon- 
ditionally submissive to her authority, and 
having acquired a considerable landed es- 
tate, which was daily becoming more val- 
uable by cultivation, and by the rapid set- 
tlement of the country, Jemima now found 
herself in an elegible situation, and would 



116 MEMOIR OP 

doubtless have wished to remain on earth, 
to enjoy the fruits of her fatigues and haz- 
ards, for a thousand years. The produce 
of her farm, together with the constant do- 
nations from her supporters, enabled her 
to live in perfect ease and plenty. Her 
house was constantly supplied with all the 
necessaries and some of the luxuries of life. 
She had many visitants, among whom 
were sometimes strangers of distinction, 
who having heard of her fame from afar, 
called to gratify their curiosity, or to be- 
come acquainted with a person who had 
been the subject of much speculation and 
enquiry. There she never failed to enter- 
tain with the greatest hospitality, and al- 
ways strove to impress them with favora- 
ble opinions of herself as a divine, and her 
attentions and exertions on such occasions 
were generally graduated according to the 
rank which she supposed her guests held 
in Society. The expenses to which her 
establishment was thereby subjected, were 
provided for by her followers in due pro- 
portions, according to their means, without 
a murmur, as they considered it an honor 
done the Society to have the Friend visit- 
ed by people of rank and standing in the 
world. 

Jemima continued to preach to her fol- 
lowers regularly until a short tiirie before 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 117 

her death, holding meetings statedly at her 
own house, and occasionally traveling in- 
to different parts of the settlement to ac- 
commodate those who lived at a distance. 
In these excursions she usually rode in 
her carriage, attended by some favorite of 
her little community. In the latter years 
of her life she remained much at home, 
and sometimes secluded herself altogether 
from company, excepting her confidants 
and select visitors. She grew fleshy and 
corpulent, and at length became affected 
with the dropsy. Her natural love of ease 
together with the fatigue of traveling, ocx 
casioned her to lay aside her usual excur* 
sions among the faithful, and her bodily 
exercises, which had never been great, 
were nearly discontinued. Her malady 
increased apace, and for more than two 
years previous to her death she endured 
much pain and distress. To consult a 
Physician was beneath the dignity, and 
inconsistent with the character, which she 
had assumed, and at her advanced age 
but little hope could be entertained of ar- 
resting the progress of a disease of so for- 
midable a character. She resigned her- 
self to the fate which she considered inev- 
itable, and patiently waited the event; bfr- 
ing probably more anxious to perpetuate 
a belief in her divinity than to protract a 



118 MEMOIR OF 

lingering and miserable existance. The 
pleasures of youth and the enjoyment of 
riper years had fled forever; and the even- 
ing of her days had not brought with it 
those consolations which a christian en- 
joys in a retrospective survey of along 
life, devoted to the care and instruction of 
his children, the exercise of charity and 
benevolence, and to the acknowledgment 
and service of his Redeemer. But she 
bore the pain of her disease with surpris- 
ing fortitude, and made it a point never to 
complain or show the least impatience (in 
the presence of visitors) on account of 
what she suffered. Her whole system 
had now become effected, and every symp- 
tom strongly indicated an approaching and 
speedy dissolution. Yet such was the de- 
lusion of her infatuated followers, that 
they would have been more easily per- 
suaded that the final consumation of all 
things was at hand than that the life of 
their Idol was drawing to a close. To the 
usual enquiry "How does the Friend?" 
they gave the foolish answer, " the Friend 
is weller" for as Jemima was, in their o- 
pinion, as good a being as they had any 
knowledge of, it would be profanity in | 
them to say she was belter. They admit c 
ted that " the tabernacle which the Fiiend 
inhabited" was deranged and disordered, 



I 



ii 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 119 

but denied that she was sick or would die, 
and exhibited evident symptoms of impa- 
tience and vexation whenever the proba- 
bility of such an event was mentioned to 
them. With Jemima, however, the case 
was far different. She knew full well the 
course of human nature, and that like all 
mankind she must die, and her body moul- 
jder in the grave, the house appointed for 
all living. She was aware that her whole 
system was pervaded with disease, and 
that deaths' approach, though slow, was 
yet regular and certain, and had already 
seized the vital parts. The day* preceed- 
ing her death, she stated to those about 
v her, that she must soon leave^them. To- 
| wards evening, finding herself fast failing, 
she again said, " My Friends, I must soon 
depart — I am going — this night I leave 
ye." She died about 2 o'clock in the mor- 
ning of Thursday, the first day of July, 
1819. 

A few of the more intelligent part of her 
flock had expected that her disease would 
terminate her^earthly career, and were 
prepared for the event. They therefore 
admitted and lamented the " departure of 
the Friend." But the major part of them 
could not, and did not believe she wag 
dead, or that she " had departed," until 
compelled by the reality ; nay such was 



120 MEMOIR or 

the enthusiastic devotion of some of the 
faithful, that when they were informed 
that Jemiipa was dead, they denied the 
fac.t mo$t stoutly, and disdainfully repelled 
the idea as an insult offered to their under- 
standings, and to the deity they worship* 
ped, and SAid the Friend would " live to 
pee all the wicked cut off from the earth." 
So great was their zeal and faith in her 
Cause, that they started immediately to go 
a$d visit the "beloved," and inform her of 
the injustice dene her by these evil reports 
which the wicked had raised against her. 
But on their arrival, and meeting the aw- 
ful reality in such a manner as to preclude 
the possibility pf evasion without denying 
the evidence of their own senses, they were 
utterly confounded, and the vacant stare 
mid mute astonishment depicted in their 
countenances, betrayed their perplexity, 
their doubts and their fears. And when 
their powers of speech returned, they la- 
mented, in doleful accents, their unpro- 
tected condition, said they were like sheep 
without a shepherd, and knew not what to 
do — that they had entertained no appre- 
hensions that the " beloved" was aboqt to 
leave them, or that the Friend intended to 
depart and withdraw her protection from 
them. But to allay the fears and remove 
tlae doubts of these miserable devotees was 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 121 

no very difficult task, and the means of 
producing this effect were already prepar- 
ed. As a part of her creed, Jemima had 
taught her disciples to believe that she 
was something more than a mere human 
being, and in order to secure their respect 
and adoration of her memory after her 
death, it was necessary to perpetuate that 
system of faith and practice in which they 
had been educated ; and two or three of 
the most crafty members of this holy sis- 
terhood were interested in lending their 
assistance to accomplish this desirable ob- 
ject ; hence it is not improbable that the 
explanation relative to her « departure" 
was previously prepared to suit the pres- 
ent occasion. These worthies according- 
ly received their wondering fellow follow- 
ers with as good a grace as possible, and 
informed them that the Friend had sud- 
denly and unexpectedly left them, that 
they were exceedingly sorrowful thereat, 
but it was their duty to be resigned to the 
will of the Lord, " for the beloved Friend 
knew what was best for them, that she 
had a right to depart, and that they must 
not repine." And moreover that the " be- 
loved had not in fact left them, her spirit 
had only left the tabernacle of clay which it 
hadinhabited, and was still with them, and 
ministering unto their wants and spiritual 



122 MEMOIR OF 

necessities, and would secure their final 
and eternal happiness provided they should 
obey her precepts and continue firm in the 
faith unto the end." This most comfort- 
able explanation answered the end for 
which it was designed. They were ex- 
ceedingly rejoiced on learning that their 
"dearly beloved friend was not a mere mor- 
tal woman, as had been vainly imnginedby 
a wicked world," their fears and doubts 
were immediately removed, their faith re- 
newed, and they again settled down into 
their.forrner stupidity, determined to per- 
severe unto the end, and await in sullen 
silence the salvation which Jemima had 
promised them. 

Jemima had given orders that her body 
should be kept as long as possible, four 
days at the least, before they "laid her a- 
way." for as to burying her, that idea was 
altogether inadmissable. The body was 
placed in a coffin, in the lid of which was 
inserted a pane of glass, so that the face 
could be seen without opening the coffin. 
The members of the Society were allow- 
ed access to the room, where she was ly- 
ing in state, for the purpose of taking a 
last and lingering look at the "Friend's 
face," until Friday evening, when the 
corpse became so extremely offensive that 
they were obliged to remove it into the 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 123 

cellar, after which none but the Cabinet 
Council were permitted to approach it. 
Oh Saturday a considerable number of 
people assembled at her late residence, in 
the expectation of seeing the corpse, and 
of joining in the funeraf solemnities ; but 
in this they were disappointed ; the reli- 
gious exercises were performed and the 
assembly dismissed as usual, without any 
allusion to the death of Jemima, her lu- 
neral or interment ; ai:d those whose 
minds had been occupied on these sub- 
jects, retired as wise as they came. On 
Sunday the followers again assembled, 
and, as an expectation generally prevailed 
throughout the neighborhood that the last 
sad duties of the living to the dead, would 
now be performed, a great concourse of 
people attended. Among them were sev- 
eral persons of the Quaker denomination, 
some of whom, being moved by sympa- 
thy and benevolence, had traveled a con- 
siderable distance to visit this Society in 
their present affliction. But these people 
needed not their condolence or their com- 
pany; they considered them as spies, or 
drawn together from idle curiosity, and 
exhibited strong symptoms of vexation 
and jealousy at the attendance of so many 
strangers, and plainly intimated that they 
would much rather have been left to 



124 MEMOIR OF 

"manage their own affairs in their own 
way." The Quakers were particularly 
obnoxious to them, and were treated with 
much rudeness. 

Jemima had been repulsed in all her 
advances towards them, in the early part 
of her career, and having succeeded in 
forming a sect of her own, and fearing 
that an acquaintance and intercourse with 
them would, from the similarity of some 
of their manners and customs, tend to in- 
corporate her people with the Society of 
Friends, and thus sap the foundations of 
her independent government, she had 
taught her disciples to look upon them 
with contempt and abhorrence. On the 
present occasion this temper was particu- 
larly manifested ; they refused to hold any 
communion with them, and those who 
wished to see and speak with the friends 
of the deceased were put off with feigned 
excuses and trivolous pretences. All the 
rooms in the house except the "public 
meeting room," were locked, and every 
thing visible wore the aspect of gloom 
and mystery. Some of the visitors en- 
quired the cause of such treatment to 
strangers, to which they replied " we have 
obeyed orders" — "we have orders for all 
we do." As this was one of their stated 
days for worship the rules of the Society 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 125 

could not be dispensed with. The per- 
son who preached on this occasion was 
one of the most garrulous sisters of the 
whole tribe, and she, with the view, no 
doubt, of wearing out the patience of the 
audience, continued speaking as long as 
she could find any thing to say, nor did 
she then give up the point, until by re- 
peating her vagrant ideas and cant phras- 
es many times over, she was driven to si- 
lence by fatigue and exhaustion. 

When the usual exercises were ended a 
desire was expressed by some of the audi- 
ence to hear one of the Quakers preach, 
and as no accommodation was allowed 
them in the house, they assembled under 
some shade trees hard by, when the speak- 
er rose and delivered an eloquent and af- 
fectionate address, and concluded with a 
fervent prayer. The assembly were much 
pleased with the discourse and prayer of 
this stranger, and expressed their satisfac- 
tion to each other, saying "surely these 
are the words of truth and soberness." 
These indications of approbation disturb- 
ed the composure and excited the jealousy 
of the leaders of the Society, and one of 
them rose and inveighed most bitterly a- 
gainst the Quakers, and among other 
things said she had foreseen in a vision 
the coming of these strange people, that 




126 MEMOIR OF 



they had been sent by the devil to bring 
discord and confusion among the faithful, 
and that she was sure they would be 
cursed in the next world, and she hoped 
she should live to see them cursed in this. 
One of the Quakers requested permis- 
sion to see the corpse, and on being refus- 
ed, observed <: it is of no great importance, 
she was nothing more than mere flesh 
and blood like the rest of us, and is now a 
mass of inanimate clay, as we all soon 
must be." The followers of Jemima were 
greatly disturbed and enraged at this re- 
mark, and said to one another, i; is it pos- 
sible?" "can it be?" " abominable !" " we 
did not think it possible ! !" " but now we 
hear it, with our own ears we hear it said, 
that the ' Universal Friend' was nothing 
more than mere flesh and blood like com- 
mon persons ! ! !" These and many other 
exclamations were made by them, show- 
ing most clearly, that they considered it 
blasphemy to speak thus of their Idol. 
The concourse of strangers who attended 
on Saturday and Sunday was not only a 
great annoyance to the Society, but very 
probably prevented the working of any 
miracles which they might have had pre- 
pared for the occasion, and they therefore 
separated mutually dissatisfied and dis- 



gusted. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 127 

After the assembly had dispersed, the 
principal managers of this farce consoled 
their adherents with the idea that they 
were the favored disciples of the Lord, 
that they were numbered with the faith- 
ful, and that if they continued steadfast 
through all their trials and sufferings, they 
should receive a crown of glory from their 
" beloved," who, they said, was not dead, 
but had only departed for a season, and 
would in her own due time vouchsafe a 
most glorious manifestation of herself un- 
ta them, and give them a final and tri- 
umphant victory over all their enemies. 

The circumstances which transpired a- 
mong this infatuated people during the 
four days next following the death of Je- 
mima, although apparently of little mo- 
ment in themselves, have been stated with 
some minuteness, because this is an im- 
portant epoch in the history of their Soci- 
ety, and because those circumstances are 
of a piece with that system of mock mys- 
tery and imposture upon which that Soci- 
ety was founded and kept together, and 
upon which the successors of Jemima (for 
there are a plurality of them) rely for 
maintaining their authority and influence 
over the deluded members. If they could 
succeed in reconciling the followers to the 
idea of her departure^ as they call it, and 



128 MKMOIR OF 

convince them that she had not died, but 
that she had only removed herself from 
their presence, yet that her spirit is still 
Ivith them dispensing her ministrations to 
their wants and necessities, and like a 
guardian ansrel constantly engaged in the 
care of their souls, with the power and in- 
tention of finally securing their eternal 
happiness ; if they could succeed in stu- 
pifying the members of this Society into a 
belief of these things, then they might cal- 
culate upon enjoying, for a season at least, 
their authority over them, and upon re- 
ceiving from them that homage and devo- 
tion which had formerly been paid to Je- 
mima. And upon this hypothesis only, 
can we account for the strange conduct 
of the leaders of this sect at the time of the 
decease of their mistress. No death — no 

mortality — no funeral no burying — 

nothing that should in itself indicate an 
acknowledgement on their part that she 
was not a divine person, or that her body 
was mortal, and had suffered the stroke of 
death. On the contrary "the beloved 
Friend has departed" — " the Universal 
Friend hath leU us" — "the shepherd hath 
left the flock" — " the body hath gone to a 
place prepared to receive it." A gloomy 
and inveterate silence prevails, except 
when questions are asked, and these are 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 129 

answered with tartness accompanied with 
an intimation that they are considered im- 
pertinent nnd offensive. This farce is kept 
up until the night of the fourth day after 
the death of Jemima, and then the body is 
missing, and the place where they have 
interred, or rather hidden it, is known 
only to those who are intrusted with this 
cabinet secret, which they are not per- 
mitted to disclose. Whether the principal 
managers in this mystery gave assurances 
to their people that Jemima would rise on 
the fourth day, or whether they induced 
them afterwards to believe that she had 
then risen, we are not positively informed ; 
but certain it is, that many of the followers 
did most firmly believe that she would 
rise at that time, and ever since have been, 
or pretended to be, certain that she did 
rise accordingly, and the secret manner 
in which the body was disposed of was 
well calculated, and was undoubtedly in- 
tended, to establish and perpetuate such a 
belief. 

Jemima was always extremely fond of 
dress ; when young she used frequently 
to say she would not go to church or 
meeting unless she could appear as well 
or better dressed than any other girl in the 
congregation. On turning her attention 
to serious matters, she was less anxious, 



130 MEMOIR OF 

but far from being indifferent about her 
apparel. After pretending to die and rise 
from the dead, she changed her fancy in 
this respect, and instead of following the 
fashions which had before been her pride 
and glory, she adopted a sacerdotal habit, 
more suited to the dignity and nature of 
her employment yet as to the richnes of 
her clothes her pride was in nothing aba- 
ted. The finest linen and silks and su- 
per-royal broad cloths were not too good 
ior her, and were never dispensed with 
but through necessity. Thus apparelled 
she could unblushingly preach patience 
and humility, frugality and industry, and 
condemn pride as a foul sin to her gazing 
throng, who with coarse raiment and 
homely fare, were yet content, with the 
sweat oi their brow, to minister to her van- 
ity and extravagance. A part of her pride 
consisted in dressing after a fashion en- 
tirely her own, which resembled neither 
that of men or women. She wore an un- 
der garment with long sleeves, wristbands 
and collar, and a large cravat about her 
neck — petticoat and slippers ; a vest cut 
sloping to the right and left from the cen- 
tre, a kind of coatee dress similar to a la- 
dy's riding habit, the upper part buttoned, 
and cut sloping below, so as to show the 
edges of her vest, and ever the whole a 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 131 

Ions: robe of black silk or white sattin ; 
and in public she always appeared with a 
huge black beaver turned down at the fides 
and tied under her chin with a ribbon. 
She wore no head dress, having her fine 
black hair combed and dressed in several 
sets of curls and ringlets, which by fre- 
quent wetting and oiling were kept as 
smooth and glossy as a raven's wing, so 
that with a fine complexion, a regular set 
of features, masculine countenance, n com- 
manding air, and a liberal stock of assu- 
rance, she had the appearance of a person- 
age of no ordinary character. These 

I advantages together with her portly mein, 
her austerity towards her people, and the 
belief on their part that she knew their 
private thoughts, rendered them as obse- 
quious and submissive as spaniels, and en- 
abled her not only to exercise her author- 
ity in many instances with great se verily, 
but to practice impositions upon their un- 

• derstandings, with a success altogether 
unaccountable. She not only kept them 
at an awful distance at her own house, 
but even when she traveled among them 
to visit or preach, she always had apart- 
ments assigned her where she tarried, in- 
to which no one, not even the proprietor 
of the house dared to enter without her 
permission. 



132 MEMOIR OF 

The condition of most of Jemima's fol- 
lowers, as members of the intellectual 
community, has always b?en most wretch- 
ed. With the exception of a few who re- 
ceived a competent education before they 
joined the Society, they are extremely ig- 
norant, a trifle of learning, hardly enough 
to enable them lo transact the ordinary 
concerns of life, being deemed not only 
sufficient, but as much as was safe for 
them to aspire after. Her teaching was to 
them the most profitable, and did they but 
believe and obey her precepts all would be 
well with them. 

Her followers in New-England amount- 
ed, ct one time, to about two hundred, a 
part only of whom followed her to this 
country; since which they have never 
been computed to exceed one hundred and 
fifty. Of these a great many have aban- 
doned the Society, and some have died, 
while of late years they have received no 
additions; their numbers have of course 
been decreasing very fast, and at the time 
of the death of Jemima there remained 
only about forty who still adhered to the 
faith, all of whom are considerably advan- 
ced in years. This society will therefore 
probably pass away with the generation 
that gave it birth. 

There are about a dozen old men and 



JEMIMA. WILKINSON. 133 

women belonging to the household, all of 
whom are single. They attached them- 
selves to Jemima in their youth, and such 
was their infatuation, that they gave them- 
selves away (as they expressed it) to the 
Friend, relinquishing every other prospect 
and enjoyment for her service, yielding 
themselves up soul and body, and making 
themselves bond men and bond women, 
to wait upon her, and do the slavery of 
her kitchen and the drudgery of her farm, 
without the hope or expectation of any 
other reward than a transient smile of their 
" dearly beloved," and the scanty support 
she allowed them, together with such pro- 
vision for them in the next world as she 
thought they deserved. These domestics 
stood in great fear of Jemima, and when 
she was at hand were always orderly and 
submissive. But when she was absent 
they often quarrelled, and sometimes pull- 
ed caps most lustily. They are now worn 
doVn with age and hard service, and 
some of them are almost helpless. Their 
support during their lives is provided for 
in Jemima's Will. 

Among these domestics, there was for- 
merly a woman of the name of Anna Sty- 
er, who sometime after joining the Socie- 
ty became partially deranged. Finding 
her troublesome and of very little service 



134 MEMOIR OF 

to her, Jemima shifted her off upon one of 
her followers, and enjoined it on him to 
provide for and take care of her, for " the 
Friend did not want to be troubled with 
her." As this man was to receive no oth- 
er compensation for his trouble and ex- 
pense in the care and support of his ward, 
than what he could derive from her la- 
bor, he attempted to reduce her to the 
condition of the most abject slave. Hav- 
ing been taught obedience to Jemima a- 
lone. and not understanding, or being un- 
willing to acknowledge the transfer of au- 
thority from her old mistress to her new 
master, she became still m< re troublesome 
and refractory, for which he frequently 
corrected her with great severity. This 
increased her obstinacy and probably her 
malady, and her kind guardian thinking 
that she would never be of any service to 
him until "the devil was whipt out of 
her," gave her one morning a most cruel 
and merciless beating. This poor miser- 
able object immediately fled. Her mind 
was disordered by the strange fantasies 
which she had heard promulgated in the 
school of Jemima, and finding herself cast 
out from the presence of her " dearly be- 
loved mistress," from whom, at the time of 
consecrating herself to her service, she ex- 
pected never to be separated, and now 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 135 

writhing under the tortures of the lash of 
the inhuman master, to whose tender care 
she had been consigned, despair seized the 
remains of her shattered intellect, and she 
hastened to a sequestered spot in a narrow 
valley hard by, which was deeply shaded 
by the interlocking branches of the peace- 
ful and silent grove, and there put an end 
at once to her griefs, her sorrows and her 
sufferings. Search being made a day or 
two after, she was here found hanging to 
the limb of a tree. This occurrence gave 
Jemima a great deal of uneasiness, and 
very much alarmed the good man who 
had charitably undertaken the support of 
this unfortunate woman. For although 
they might be in no danger of a judicial 
investigation, yet the cruelty and ingrati- 
tude of which she had fallen a victim, 
might excite the compassion of the follow- 
ers, and operate injuriously to Jemima's 
interest and reputation. To excuse them- 
selves and suppress enquiry, the story was 
told with many exaggerations as to the in- 
sanity of the deceased, and a total denial 
of the brutal treatment which had produ- 
ced the sad catastrophe. 

By her last will and testament Jemima 
bequeathed the estates real and personal 
to Rachel Matin, who is also charged with 
the support of these helpless old men and 



136 MEMOIR OF 

women out of the same. Rachel is said to 
be a humane benevolent person, and a ju- 
dicious manager ; it is therefore probable 
that these unfortunate creatures will be as 
well taken care of and provided for under 
her superintendance, as they were at any 
time daring the life of Jemima. 

The remnant of this Society still retain 
their habits manners and customs, and as- 
semble for religious exercises as formerly. 
In filling the office of chief speaker and 
leader of the sect they will probably find 
some difficulty, that perferment being re- 
solutely contended for by three rival "can- 
didatcs, two of whom being sisters of Je- 
mima, rest their claims on their consan- 
guinity to the former incumbent, and their 
competency to discharge the duties of the 
station.* The other competitor for suprem- 
acy has equal claims on the score of tal- 
ents, and has moreover rendered some im- 
portant services at an early period of the 
Society. How this struggle for superiori- 
ty will terminate, is very uncertain, and 
equally unimportant. 

Jemima appeared very desirous, towards 
the close of her life, to clear up her charac- 
ter in relation to several things which had 
been charged against her. Whether she 

* Our anther has here been misinformed, as no Sis, 
tern of Jemima joined her Society. 



JEM13IA WILKK*30?C. 137 

had become ashamed of some of the impo- 
sitions which she had practised in the 
eariy part of her career, on finding she 
could enjoy the benefits of them bat little 
longer, or whether she had actually for- 
gotten them, we are not authorised to say. 
But it is certain, that she took much pains 
and embraced every opportunity to deny 
them. She was visited, about two or three 
weeks before her death, by a female ac- 
quaintance of hers who had' known her ever 
since she commenced preaching, but who 
had never been a a follower. On this oc- 
casion Jemima talked much of herself and 
her ; - ministry/' and appeared anxious to 
impress her visitor with a favorable opinion 
of her, to convince her of the injustice done 
to her by the wicked, and of the trials and 
sufferings which she had endured for the 
good ot mankind, and her resignation to 
whatever fate awaited her. u I have/' said 
she --been four and forty years wandering 
up and down, and preaching to an un- 
friendly world. 1 was sent from above to 
do the work of the Lord— the great work 
which none other could do. This work I 
have patiently accomplished, though with 
many trials and much suffering. " If the 
Lord hath anything more for me to do. I 
am willing to remain yet longer, and go 
through a further pilgrimage on earth to 

M 



188 HEJffOltt ov 

accomplish the will of the Lord. But if 
it is the will of the Lord to take me, I am 
resigned to his will, let the Lord's will be 
done. What 1 have done is the work of 
the Lord, and will stand — l 'till heaven and 
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in 
no wise pass from the law, till all be ful- 
filled.'* But the children of the devil 
have attempted to destroy the work of the 
Lord, and pull me down. The servants 
of the devil have accused me of all man- 
ner of wickedness. But their evil doings 
will fall upon their own heads. "When I 
began to preach 1 was as unspotted from 
the touch of any man as the infant in the 
cradle, and have remained so to this mo- 
ment." She mentioned also that she had 
been accused of attempting to work a mir- 
acle by walking on the water, and also of 
having obtained presents and donations 
from her people by saying " the Lord hath 
need of this tiling." But with great ear- 
nestness denied these assertions, and af- 
firmed that they were the suggestion of 
the devil and the fabrications of her ene- 
mies. But these facts, together with ma- 
ny others, yet to be recorded, equally ex- 
traordinary, are too well authenticated to 
admit of a doubt, or to be passed over in 



^Matthew v, 18. 



JKMIUA WILIUN30N. 130 

silence, without doing injustice to the 
subject of this history. 

In writing the history of Jemima Wil- 
kinson thus far, those specific traits of her 
character which were more particularly 
developed in the formation and govern- 
ment of a distinct sect, have been occa- 
sionally touched, though not enlarged up- 
on; some of her doctrines, and the manner 
and substance of her teaching, with the 
means whereby she acquired and main- 
tained her ifluence over the minds of her 
followers, have also been in part described. 
In this respect, however, no more has been 
stated than was judged necessary and suf- 
ficient to connect the chain of facts and 
occurences which constitute the narrative 
of her life, and to disclose to the reader 
some of the principal causes which have 
produced the effects already detailed. 
There remains, therefore, many interest- 
ing anecdotes and extraordinary circum- 
stances in relation to this singular person- 
age, which, though they could not have 
been sooner brought into view, without 
seeming to interrupt the regular detail of 
facts, yet they afford a striking illustration 
of the character here drawn cf Jemima 
and her Society, and without which her 
history would be incomplete. They al- 
so serve to show the wild and unnatural 



140 mkmoi-r or 

conclusions to which fanaticism will lead 
her devoted victims, and the gross imposi 
tions which, under the garb of religion, 
may he successfully practised upon the 
minds of those who are ever ready to be- 
lieve in any thing that is new and marvel- 
ous, although it may be totally at vari- 
ance with the commonly received opinions 
of mankind, and inconsistent with reason 
and common sense. 

During her ministrations in New Eng- 
land, Jemima found much difficulty m 
persuading the people to believe that she 
was a divine person. The circumstances 
of her confinement during the summer 
and autumn of 1776, and her |>retended 
rising from the dead, were witnessed by 
many persons of undoubted veracity, and 
were publicly known and well understood 
in the neighborhood of* her residence. 
But by shifting about from place to place, 
and pushing her schemes more boldly 
where she was less known, she at length, 
by dint of impudence and perseverance, 
succeed in obtaining a few proselytes, 
who, if they did not really believe, were 
interested in reporting, that she was the 
" Universal Friend of mankind and the 
Savior of sinners." After their removal 
to Pennsylvania, and subsequently on their 
titling in the Lake country, they found 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 141 

less difficulty in getting along with this 
item in the catalogue of their impositions. 
She and her sisters gave the following ac- 
count of her sickness death, and the reani- 
mation of her body. They stated that '-the 
scarlet fever broke out among the troops on 
board the British fleet at New-Port, attend- 
ed with symptoms of great malignity and 
contagion; it was communicated to the 
people on shore, and spread and ravaged 
the country to a considerable extent. The 
fever visited her lather's family, all of 
whom were attacked in succession, and 
Jemima attended upon them through their 
illness. During this time she frequently 
said if she should be taken with this fever 
she was certain she should die. At length, 
when the others had all nearly recovered, 
thedisease seized her with the most violent 
symptoms. After languishing three weeks 
in the greatest distress, she became perfect- 
ly helpless and speechless, and remained 
in that situation for three days, during 
which time her friends and attendants ex- 
pected every moment would be her last. 
She then ceased to breathe or show any 
signs of life, when they all supposed she 
was dead. At the end of three houri^ 
however, (as they pretend) she suddenly 
rose up in her bed, and to the utter aston- 
ishment of all present, (about sixty in 



MKMOIU OF 

number) said in a strong and nmhble tone 
of voice, "Glory to God and the Lamb!" 
end immediately ttsked her sisters to fold 
her some clothes. They supposed at first 
that she had been in a trance and was now 

delirious, but. remembering that she had 
keen three days helpless and speechless; 

and three hours apparently lifeless, they 
were lost m amazement, and knew not how 
to account, for what they saw and heard, 
without ascribing it to some supernatural 

agency, According to her request they 

gave her clothes, and she dressed herself 
without any assistance, immediately rose 
and kneeled by the side of her bed and 
prayed for a considerable time, with gfetfl 
fervor and solemnity, and from that time 
went about in as good health as she hnd 
ever enjoyed. " 

This idle story, SO outrageous to com- 
mon sense, and S(> utterly destitute even of 
ordinary probability, was industriously cir* 
ciliated by herself and her followers, dur- 
ing their residence in Pennsylvania, and 
after their settlement in the state of New- 
York, accompanied and fortified by a mul- 
titude of marvellous and mysterious cir- 
cumstances, calculated to induce a belief 
in the assertion that she hail actually died, 
and that her body had been re-animated by 
an Almighty power — all of which was «if- 



JKMIMA WILKINSON. 143 

firmed by her retinue with such uniformi- 
ty, and seeming sincerity, that many in- 
telligent and serious people were led astray; 
and "had her Conduct been as chaste and 
disinterested as her professions, the dor 
ception would probably have been prac- 
tised to a much greater extent. Although 
in the latter part of her life she was more 
cautious in her public declarations as to 
her divinity, yet that in the early part of 
her career, and for many years after, she 
boldly and publicly maintained that she 
was the Messiah and Savior of mankind, 
is too well attested to admit of doubt. 

In her prayers and in her preaching she 
would never speak of Jesus Christ in the 
third person, but prayed to the Father fox 
blessings on her people and mankind, "for 
the sake of the Lamb which was slain. 3 ' 
Hut in her conversations with those who 
appeared to entertain doubts as to the 
character and person, she was always eva- 
sive, and endeavored to shape her dis- 
course in such a manner as to induce 
them, if possible, to believe she was so mo- 
thing more than a mere human being, and 
at the same time not to shock their under- 
standings by an open and positive declar- 
ation of what she wished them to believe. 
And by her ambiguous phrases, half con- 
cealed allusions, indirect suggestions, and 



144 MEMOIR OF 

significant looks and gestures, she clearly 
disclosed her intention of respresenting 
herself as an incarnation of our blessed 
Savior. By this course of management 
she induced many who denied their belief 
in her divinity, to think her a very extra- 
ordinary person. A gentleman who held 
these sentiments respecting Jemima, and 
who entertained serious thoughts of join- 
ing the Society, sought an opportunity and 
enquired of her in direct terms whether 
she did pretend to be the Messiah ? To 
this question she gave him cautious and 
evasive answer, and concluded with re- 
peating from John 16th chap, and 12th 
verse — "I have yet many things to say 
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.' 3 
This hypocrasy by which she had proba- 
bly deceived many, effectually opened his 
eyes, and he immediately abandoned her 
and dismissed all thoughts of becoming a 
follower. 

In order to establish and perpetuate the 
belief of her divine mission among her 
people, and to spread the same idea among 
others, she adopted a settled course of 
practice iu one particular, which was in 
no case departed from ; this was, never to 
acknowledge her proper name. Having 
assumed the tittle of " Universal Friend of 
mankind," she had no further occasion for 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 145 

the name of Jemima Wilkinson ; accor- 
ingly all her followers were taught as a 
duty to consider and call her the "Uni- 
versal Friend," and on all occasions to ab- 
stain from speaking of her in such a man- 
ner as to indicate any distinction of sex. 
In speaking of Jemima, or any thing be- 
longing or appertaining to her, they always 
said "the Friend— it is the Friend's ;" 
thus it was, " the Friend's house '--" tho 
Friend's carriage," &c. but would never 
say her or hers, though to avoid it they 
might be compelled to use the word 
"Friend" a hundred times in the same 
conversation. Such articles of her ap- 
parel and household furniture as usually 
bear the initials of the owner's name were 
marked " U. F." and the traveling carriage 
bore the same impress. It was derogato- 
ry to the character to which she pretended 
to acknowledge any relationship or con- 
nexion with the human family, none 
therefore, over whom she exercised any 
influence, dared to call her by her name, 
or allude to her family or kindred, and 
when visited by strangers she enjoyed the 
satisfaction of hearing herself addressed in 
the manner prescribed to her vassals, by 
those who chose rather to flatter than ot 
fend her. In the course of her life she 
was frequently visited by clergymen ojp 

N 



146 MEMOIR OP 

different denominations who. not choos- 
ing to gratify her vanity in this res- 
pect, called her Jemima Wilkinson, and 
enquired of her whether that was her 
name ? to which she generally answered 
" Thou sayest it,"* or " Thou hast said 
it." A gentleman of the name of Day, on 
receiving this answer, enquired further 
whether she did not belong to the family 
of Jeremiah Wilkinson, and whether he 
was not her father ? she replied, " The 
first man is of the earth, earthy : the sec- 
ond man is the Lord from Heaven."t She 
then enquired his name, (although she 
well knew it) and on receiving his answer, 
she replied "Day! Day! thy day will 
soon be turned into night unless thee 
mends thy ways." 

Jemima was always thus cautious and 
evasive when in conversation with per- 
sons of talents and learning, who attempt- 
ed either to draw from her any avowal of 
her creed, or to controvert any known 
point of her doctrines, sometimes avoiding 
a direct answer by changing the subject 
of conversation, or by repeating texts of 
scripture, and embraced every opportunity 
of repeating the words made use of by our 
Savior in answer to his disciples. Having 

*Luke xxin, 3d. 

tlit Corithians xy, 47tb. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 147 

attempted to personate Christ, it was to 
be expected she would adopt his language 
on all occasions where she could expect 
any benefit from it. She has frequently 
shown a strong desire to ascertain what 
the " people of the world" thought of her 
and what they said of her, and on several 
occasions enquired of individuals whether 
they believed she was from Heaven ■/ A 
gentleman to whom she addressed this 
enquiry, told her he believed her spirit 
tame from Heaven, and from the common 
parent of all mankind, but that her body 
was of human origin ; upon which she 
recited several texts of scripture, and then 
added, "When I first assumed this dead 
body I found much resistence from men 
and devils" — and was proceeding in this 
strain with affected solemnity, when her 
auditor, not having any great respect for 
her religion or morals, and not wishing to 
treat her rudely, immediately took his leave 
of her. These arts were practised by her 
with great assiduity and with consider- 
able success. The impression thus made 
on the minds of some of her devotees was 
such, that they have, in many instrances, 
been known to prostrate themselves on the 
floor on coming into her presence. On 
these occasions she would, in an affection- 
ate manner, desire them to rise, saying 



148 MEMOIR OF 

" See that thou do it not, but worship 
God." The people of her Society affected 
to use the scripture language as much as 
possible, not only in their epistolary cor- 
respondence, but in their conversation 
using thee and thou to each other ; but 
in speaking of Jemima, or to her, they al- 
ways called her "the Friend," the "Be- 
loved," or the " Beloved Friend." In ad? 
dressing her on the subject of their frail- 
ties and imperfections they were accus- 
tomed to express a "hope for pardon in 
the Beloved," and "through the Beloved." 
That she absolutely required them to wor- 
ship her as their Savior, we have perhaps 
no positive evidence; but that she incul- 
cated this as a duty, and by some means or 
other succeeded in inducing them to ac- 
knowledge her as such, and address her 
accordingly, is well known to many be- 
sides her followers; and the apparent 
sincerity with which they rendered this 
homage, and the self-complacency with 
which she received it, prove most clearly 
that it was required by the system of reli- 
gion which they had adopted. Some of 
the members, it is true, deny that they be- 
lieve she was the Messiah, but then they 
say she was an extraordinary person, un- 
like any other teacher or professor of reli- 
gion. But wherein consists the extraor- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 149 

dinary traits of character to which they 
allude, or wherein she differed from other 
women, they have not, as yet. conde- 
scended to inform us. Theie are others 
who believe, or pretended to believe, that 
she was their Savior, and that their 
eternal happiness or misery depended 
upon their obedience to her, and her fa- 
vor and good will towards them. Some 
of these have been heard to say, even 
since the death of Jemima, that they were 
< f so far satisfied with the all-svjjiciency of 
the Friend, that they felt no necessity nor 
inclination for seeking any other being as 
a Savior, or from any other source to ex- 
pect future happiness. 

This fatal delusion has survived its 
hypocritical author, and will probably ac- 
company its victims through life. Jf a 
doubt is expressed to them on the subject 
they reply "the Jews disbelieved in the 
Lord at his first corning, and it is not 
strange if the world now disbelieves in 
his second coming.' , And when the ques- 
tion has been put to them directly wheth- 
er they believe she was the Savior of 
mankind ? they answered " we cannot say 
that the Friend was not." At the com- 
mencement of her public career this belief 
was diligently promulgated, and obtained 
from time to time considerable currency. 



150 MEMOIR OP 

The more cautions of her followers would 
not, it is true, admit in direct terms that 
they believed Jemima to be Jesus Christ, 
but still they afforded sufficient evidence, 
in their demeanor and conversations re- 
specting her, that they entertained this 
opinion ; while the more ardent and un- 
reflecting had no hesitation, nay, were os- 
tentatious, in avowing their belief in the 
divinity of her person. One of the latter 
description, who in the early part of Je- 
mima's priesthood was suddenly proselyt- 
ed to her views, and continued for a short 
time one of her most furious zealots, not 
only acknowledged this article of their 
faith, but publicly defended it with great 
firmness and energy. Being engaged in 
a dispute on this point at a small collection 
in his neighborhood, and waxing warm in 
the good cause, he rose from his seat, and 
pointing to Jemima said, " That person 
has converted my soul, and I want no 
other Savior, — the Universal Friend of 
mankind has wrought thirteen miracles, 
which I have seen with my own eyes, 
curing the lame, the halt and the blind, 
and raising up and making instantly 
whole, unfortunate persons who had been 
diseased more than a year, and who were 
supposed to have been beyond the hope of 
relief or mercy in this world. I am there- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 151 

fore satisfied of the divirie character of 
that person, and shall look to none other 
as my Savior." 

He continued steadfast n this belief for 
some time, and was in great repute with 
the members of the Society for his devo- 
tion and zeal, and received from Jemima 
many tokens of her approbation of his 
fidelity to her cause. But she at length 
miscarried in one of her attempts to work 
a miracle, and tha circumstances com- 
ing to the knowledges this misguided and 
mystery-loving convert, his faith was in- 
stantly put to flight, and he immediately af- 
ter abandoned the Society. As he had been 
one of her most devoted followers, and al- 
ways foremost in trumpeting her fame, par- 
ticularly as it respected the number and 
magnitude of her miracles, she felt sensibly 
his loss ; and although she would have 
gladly retained him in her service, yet such 
was the firmness and decision of his mind, 
and the promptitude with which he retract- 
ed his errors on discovering the true char- 
acter of his mistress, and the nature of her 
pretended miracles, that she never dared 
to make any further attempts upon his 
credulity. 

Her followers were accustomed to ad- 
dress her by those names and attributes 
which belong only to the great Savior of 



152 MEftOtR OP 

mankind, and an instance has been known 
of one of her disciples sending her a letter 
superscribed "To Jesus Christ." The 
conveyance of this letter was intrusted t% 
one ot the followers, who showed it to a 
friend of hers, whom she visited on the 
way, with a view no doubt of impressing 
her with a belief in the divinity of her 
mistress. 

A short time after Jemima removed into 
the Lake country, she got into some diffi- 
culty by reason of these pretences. She 
maintained the sacredftess of her person 
and the divinity of her character with 
such impudent boldness as to give public 
offence, in consequence of which a com- 
plaint was made to the Grand Jury of On- 
tario county, who presented an indictment 
against her for blasphemy. But she was 
never arraigned upon this indictment. 
Doubts were enterUinetf by some as to the 
propriety of pursuing her with a criminal 
prosecution in a land where freedom of 
opinion and religious toleration are secur- 
ed by the Constitution, and constitute the 
boast of every citizen ; and others from 
delicacy to her sex, and compassion for a 
misguided fanatic, were unwilling to see 
any thing done which could be ascribed 
to a spirit of persecution. These senti- 
ments coming in aid of the earnest solici- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 153 

tations of her friends, prevented a public 
trial. But the danger to which she had 
been thus exposed made a lasting Impres- 
sion upon the mind of "Jemima, "and ren- 
dered her ever after exceedingly circum- 
spect on this subject, arid her followers 
also became extremely cautious of pro- 
mulgating or explaining the ideas they 
entertained concerning her. 

Among the many schemes projected by 
Jemima, for the purpose of establishing 
and perpetuating her influence and au- 
thority over her people, was that of giving 
titles to her principal followers. Her title 
as has already been stated, was the "Uni- 
versal Friend of mankind." One follow- 
er was calkd the "Prophet Elijah," and 
another tfife "Prophet Daniel." Sarah 
Richards was the "Prophet Daniel," and 
being a fine looking woman, she was 
sometimes dignified fwith the addition of 
* the beloveds She was subject to fits, 
commonly called falling sickness. It was 
pretended by her and Jemima that, during 
these intervals t>f partial suspension of the 
animal functions, her spirit left her body 
and winged its flight to the heavenly re- 
gions, where she had a clear and distinct 
view of the state of her fellow beings on 
earth, and oi their future destinv ; and was 
moreover able to inform every one, who 



154 MEMOIR OF 

wished to know, by what means they 
could secure for themselves eternal happi- 
ness ; which in general was nothing more 
nor less than for those who belonged to 
the true fold, to yield implicit faith in the 
sanctity of Jemima, and unconditional 
obedience to her authority j and as to 
those who were rot members, they must 
immediately join her Society, and become 
equally faithful and submissive. 

As Sarah sometimes had these fits 
when a number were collected to hold 
their evening sittings, she and Jemima 
had ample opportunities of practising their 
legerdemain upon the followers, and oth- 
ers who, being neighbors, occasionally at- 
tended these meetings, although they were 
not professed members. While under the 
operation of these fits, Sarah would lie 
for some time motimiless and apparently 
lifeless. The first indication of returning 
animation, was a tremulous motion of the 
extremities and the muscles of the face ; 
Jemima would watch these symptons 
with the utmost anxiety, weeping vio- 
lently, and repeating "dear soul, what 
pangs the Prophet Daniel endures, what 
agony the beloved suffers for the sins of 
the people." On recovering, Sarah al- 
ways had a message for some one or more 
of their acquaintance, who by the by, had 






JEMIMA WILKINSON. 15$ 

been previously designated by Jemimae 
If the persons for whom these ghostly 
communications were intended were pres- 
ent, they immediately received them, to- 
gether with such censures or commenda- 
tions as Jemima thought fit to bestow, 
prefaced however by this remark, " the 
Lord sendeth thee a message by the mouth 
of his servant the Prophet Daniel/' But 
if the objects of these impositions hap- 
pened not to be present, they were imme- 
diately complimented with an invitation 
to " come and see the Friend, for the Lord 
hath a message for thee by the mouth of 
his servant the Prophet Daniel." To the 
faithful and devout these messages were 
always of the most comfortable and flat- 
tering nature, full of gracious promises, 
interspersed occasionally with an intima- 
tion that a continued and strict compli- 
anc with all the requirements of Jemima 
was still necessary, and that to fall short 
in any, however small a degree, in their 
duty to the " Friend," would expose them 
to imminent danger of being cast off for- 
ever, and that as she always knew the 
workings of their minds, they could not, 
even in secret, neglect the instructions 
which she gave them, without endanger- 
ing their safety. Others who were less 
devoted to the interests of the Society, 



156 MEMOIR OF 

were encouraged with the hope of future 
happiness, provided they would double 
their diligence in propitiating the Friend's 
favor, and in rendering their assistance to 
provide for the wants of the Society. In 
this way their messages were framed to 
suit the views of these crafty women, and 
were always graduated by a regular scale, 
from the most flattering promises to the 
faithful, to the severest denunciations a- 
gainst those who were deemed incorigi- 
ble, and particularly those who had of- 
fended the sisterhood. Against the latter 
in particular, she would sometimes in- 
veigh with extreme bitterness, and inform 
them that the Prophet Daniel had been 
permitted to view, in long perspective, the 
wicked lives they were leading, their 
dreadful end and the fiery torments pre- 
pared for them in another world, and 
from which nothing could save them but 
an immediate compliance with the requi- 
sitions of herself and the rules of her So- 
ciety. Sarah Richards was in this respect, 
as well as in many others, a most conven- 
ient and useful instrument, and rendered 
her very great assistance in obtaining pros- 
elytes and in governing and instructing the 
Society. 

But the Prophet Elijah did not act quite 
so -disinterested or successful a part. He 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 157 

was a man of strong mind and still strong- 
er passions. Jemima promoted him to the 
dignity of the Prophet Elijah in order to 
give him that influence among the breth- 
ren and sisters which was necessary to 
enable him to subserve her interests. He 
afterwards conceived the idea of using 
the advantages he had thus acquired for 
his own amusement and gratification. He 
accordingly undertook the business of 
manufacturing dreams, visions and tran- 
ces, whereby he became acquainted with 
the destinies of some of the members, 
particularly the inexperienced and weak 
sister s, for whom he frequently had very 
loving messages, which were always de- 
livered in private. Jemima, however, 
soon became acquainted with the nature 
of his ministrations^ and immediately de- 
graded him from his dignity as a Prophet 
and thrust him out of the Society; and 
although possessed of much cunning and 
address, poor Elijah could never again re- 
instate himself as a member among them. 
In fact, many of the Society who had, un- 
til then, never suspected the sanctity of 
the good Prophet, were outraged in their 
feelings, and ever, after looked upon him 
with abhorrence. 

Having had some experience in devis- 
ing and carrying on a new system of reli- 



1*8 MEMOIR OP 

gion, he was altogether unwilling to aban- 
don the trade, or give up his pretensions 
to saintship. He therefore turned his at- 
tention to the establishment of a new con- 
gregation or Society, on a plan somewhat 
resembling the New- light Baptists. These 
were to be called Free-will Baptists, to 
distinguish them from other sects, after 
whom they copied so closely as to become 
nearly identified with them in every thing 
but their name. But in this new under- 
taking he found many difficulties, and not 
having the assistance of his cunning old 
friend and coadjutor Jemima, and being in 
disgrace with the members of her Society 
he made but poor progress. At one time 
he had a few hearers who seemed inclined 
for a while to listen to his exhortations. 
He therefore exerted himself with consid- 
erable diligence to infuse into them that 
degree of enthusiasm and ardor of devo- 
tion which would be necessary to enable 
him to organize and maintain a distinct 
Society. The principal point Insisted up- 
on was, a superabundance of faith and 
zeal in the good cause in which they were 
about to engage. To effect this, no op- 
portunity was omitted, nor art left untried, 
of which he was master, to bring them to 
the sticking point. He represented to 
ihem that if they had but "sufficient faith 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 159 

they could remove mountains," or do al- 
most any thing else. He at length under- 
took to try an experiment upon the faith 
or rather credulity of an ignorant Afri- 
can, who was laboring with him in his 
field. 

They concluded that their faith was 
sufficiently strong to enable them to run 
through the flame of a burning brush heap 
without receiving any injury, and mutu- 
ally agreed to perform the miracle. The 
poor negro went first, and being a man of 
great activity, passed with the fleetness of 
the wind through the burning brush ; yet 
the fierceness of the blaze was such that 
he came off badly singed, which so cooled 
the ardor and staggered the faith of the 
Prophet^ that he judged it more prudent 
to go round than through the fire. The 
unfortunate result of this farce put an end 
to the operations of the " Phophet Elijah," 
and relieved Jemima from the jealousy 
which she began to entertain of what she 
feared would at some future day, become 
a rival establishment. 

Jemima was liberal in the bestowment 
of titles and dignities in proportion as she 
found them useful in the government of 
her flock. One of her sisters was nick- 
named " John the beloved," and was occa- 
sionally permitted to act the part of a 



160 MEMOIR OF 

Prophet, and another of the sisterhood was 
dubbed with the appellation of "Enoch 
the Prophet of old." But they were not 
sufficiently cunning and skilful to be of 
much service to Jemima in the character 
of Prophets. Sarah Richards was alto- 
gether the greatest adept in this business, 
and probably practised as. much imposition 
upon the members of the Society as Jemi- 
ma did during the time she was a member; 
in manufacturing visioqs and trances she 
certainly outstripped ; all others that at- 
tempted the business, and so well did she 
manage on these occasions that she was 
never foiled but once, and in that instance 
she would have succeeded but for the im- 
pertinent curiosity of a physician who had 
been invited to witness thjB operation. Je- 
mima had .entertained strong hopes of 
proselyting this young gentleman, but as 
he appeared to labor under some doubts 
and scruples it became necessary to get 
up one of Sarah's visions for his especial 
benefit. But not happening to have a fit 
at hand, she was under the necessity of 
feigning one, a shift to which they often 
resorted, as the real fits hut seldom occur- 
red, and the exigencies of the Cabinet re- 
quired a frequent repetition of the farce. 
"While she was performing this ridiculous 
cheat the cunning Doctor stepped to the 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 161 

bed side, and remarked that she was in a 
faintingfit; but Jemima denied that Sa- 
rah had fainted, asserted that she was in a 
trance, and very sternly desired him not 
to touch her. The Doctor by this time 
had taken her hand under pretence of feel- 
ing her pulse, and suddenly stripping up 
her sleeve, declared that unless she was 
immediately bled she would expire in two 
minutes; this so startled the "Prophet 
Daniel" that she gave a loud scream and 
jumped up, and together with those in the 
room, thrust the poor Doctor down stairs 
without ceremony. 

This was a sad discomfiture, and gfave 
great offence to Jemima and those who 
were present on this important occasion. 
They immediately denounced him as a 
heretic, reprobate and incorrigible sinner, 
without the hope and beyond the reach of 
mercy. Having the advantage of numbers 
they easily pursuaded their friends and 
the members of the Society that the ac- 
count he gave of the miscarriage of the 
Prophet, was an invention of his own, and 
convinced them that Sarah had seen, in 
her trance, the poor Doctor, and many 
other such doubters of the faith and dis- 
turbers of the peace of the Society, bound 
with red hot chains, and rolling in burn- 
ing brimstone, and advised all who re- 

O 



1*62 MEMOIR or 

garded their future happiness to have no- 
thing to do with so foul a sinner. They 
also cautioned their followers against cred- 
iting any thing he should say, as he had 
taken offence, they said, at the friendly 
advice they had given him, and the at- 
tempts they had made to reclaim him from 
his wicked ways, and to save him from 
the dreadful punishment which Sarah had 
very distinctly seen awaiting him. The 
members of the Society, therefore, believed 
this statement and adopted Jemima's re- 
sentment against the Doctor for slandering 
the "Prophet Daniel." 

Jemima always evinced a fixed determi- 
nation to exact from her followers uncon- 
ditional submission to her authority. She 
possessed a lofty mind, a proud spirit, an 
impatient and high temper, and could not 
brook opposition from any person on any 
occasion whatever. She affected to con- 
sider herself superior to any human being, 
and in her conversations and instructions 
inculcated a preference to the wife over 
the husband, and in many instances, even 
in the latter part of her life, produced 
much unhappiness in the families of some 
of her friends, by urging: to the women 
that it was contrary to their duty, as pro- 
fessors of religion, to acknowledge, cither 
in words or actions, the right of the hus- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 163 

band to rule his household. She also 
made attempts upon children and young 
inexperienced persons to induce them 
to abandon their homes and join the So- 
ciety. In support of this she quoted He- 
brews twelfth chapter and ninth verse, 
" Furthermore we have had fathers of the 
flesh, which corrected us, and we gave 
them reverence : shall we not much rath- 
er be in subjection to the Father of Spirits, 
and live?" Her commentary on this pas- 
sage of Scripture was, that although they 
might have submitted to the authority of 
their fathers, and reverenced them, yet, 
that in order to secure eternal life they 
should renounce all allegiance to their pa- 
rents and join the Society, which was the 
true fold of the faithful, and under the pro- 
tection and immediate governance of the 
Lord. By these means she succeeded, in 
the e:\rly part her career, in seducing a 
number of young persons to leave their 
families and join her. But after pro- 
hibiting matrimony, these attempts upon 
the youth of her neighborhood were at- 
tended with very little success; few, if 
any, could be found who, for the sake of 
the uncertain benefits to be derived from 
joining themselves to a strange sect, whose 
system of religious worship and instruct- 
ion was suspected, and whose morality > 



164 MEMOIR OP 

to say the least of it, was equivocal, were 
willing to renounce the principles in 
which they had heen educated, and aban- 
don all hopes of that happiness which 
arises frorrj a compliance with the obvious 
dictates of our nature and the first wish 
of the heart of man. 

As Jemima always had some text to 
suit every occasion, so she could prove by 
scripture authority that women ought not 
to yield obedience to their husbands. "We 
ought to obey God rather than man" — 
Acts 5th, &9th. This text she quoted on 
such occasions, and expounded it as fol- 
lows: — "We," meaning women exclu- 
sively, "ought not by intermarrying with 
the men, to give them pretext, according 
to the fashion and custom of a wicked 
world, for exacting obedience from us, 
who they acknowledge to be the better 
part of creation ; and that such women as 
have unfortunately been married before 
they became acquainted with the true in- 
terpretation of Scripture, and otir doctrines 
on this subject, are in duty bound to re- 
nounce all allegiance to their husbands, 
and if possible to obtain the supremacy in 
relation to the domestic police and govern- 
ment of the family." But in all cases 
where the husband belonged to, or would 
join the Society, the question of superior- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 165 

ity was always settled between them by 
Jemima in person, and her requisitions 
were, in these, as in almost all other cases, 
scrupulously complied with. 

It is not intended, neither is it necessa- 
ry, to enter into an elaborate discussion of 
the respective rights and duties of the par- 
ties to the marriage contract. These are 
relative and easily understood by those to 
whom they appertain, and it is very prob- 
able that more happiness is enjoyed in 
those families where these points are never 
agitated, than where they are made the 
subjects of domestic controversy. A well 
bred liberal minded man will be satisfied 
with the care and attention bestowed by 
his wife in that department which nature 
and the custom of the country have as- 
signed her, without wishing to control her 
in the exercise of her judgment in dischar- 
ging the duties she owes to herself and 
and her family ; and a prudent wife, who 
regards the honor and interests of her hus- 
band and the happiness of her child ren^ 
will voluntarily do more towards promot- 
ing these objects than she could be in- 
duced to perform by the exercise of any 
compulsory right cr authority which the 
husband may pretend to possess for en* 
forcing her obedience. But in the opinion 
of Jemima, it was not sufficient that the 



166 MKMOIR OF 

sexes should be considered equal. She 
had been long accustomed to exercise her 
authority over her followers both male 
end female without opposition, and in 
some instances with extreme severity. 
This gave her an exalted opinion of tho 
superiority of her own sex, and of their pe- 
culiar fitness to govern, and it is not im- 
probable but in process of time, she rea- 
soned herself into the belief that in some 
unlucky moment the order of nature had 
been reversed, that the empire of man was 
a mere assumption of power, obtained by 
force and fraud, and that under her happy 
auspices the fair sex were to be restored 
to those rights and dignities of which they 
had been thus despoiled. To effect this 
important revolution in practice and sen- 
timent, among the members of her Socie- 
ty at least, Jemima took unwearied pains, 
in which she was more successful than I 
would be readily believed by any person 
unacquainted with the materials upon 
which she thus operated, and the means ij 
by which she usually carried her points, jj 
That she completely succeeded in this | 
scheme with respect to a large proportion 
of her followers, is obvious to any one 
who has had even a moderate acquaint- 
ance with the Society. Those male mem- 
bers who by long submission have become 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 167 

accustomed and reconciled to this petticoat 
discipline, discover its effects in their looks 
and actions so plainly, that they are appa- 
i rent even to a stranger. Bat they have an 
excuse for this as well as for almost every 
j other departure from the common customs 
of the world, and the meanness, the qui- 
: escent and subdued spirit of these people, 
are palmed upon the public for meekness 
and humility, and the effects of die be- 
nign influence of Jemima's system of re% 
ligion. 

In order to establish her power more 
J firmly, and at the same time gratify her 
I occasioal resentments, Jemima frequently 
exercised her authority in punishing those 
who had been guilty of violating any of 
her commands. In some instances her 
decisions were extremely ludicrous, and 
i the punishments which she inflicted were 
i often of the most ludicrous character. 
Although she always maintained a most 
serious and sanctimonious exterior in pres- 
ence of her followers generally, yet there 
were moments when in private with Sarah 
Richards, and one or two others who en- 
joyed her confidence, in which she relaxed 
from her wonted severity, and indulged in 
frivolity and merriment. Their private 
room beinsr on the second floor, they 
thought themselve secure from prying 



168 MEMOIR OF 

eyes and listening ears, and getting into a 
pretty high frolic one evening, their mirth 
attracted the curiosity of one of the mem- 
bers, who very slily climbed up into the 
top of a cherry tree, which stood immedi- 
ately in front of their window, from 
whence he had a fair view of an exhibi- 
tion which, to him, was altogether new 
and very amusing. But in retreating 
from his post of observation he was un- 
luckily intercepted by one of the domes- 
tics, by whom information was conveyed 
to Jemima. The next day this inquisitive 
sinner was arraigned before the Cabinet 
Council, and threatened with the most 
awful punishment for the dreadful crime 
of which he had been guilty. The poor 
deluded wretch trembled in 1 every joint, 
and probably imagined that his last hour 
had arrived. He therefore confessd his 
guilt and the motives which had led to 
the perpetration of the offence, and very 
devoutly and fervently begged for mercy. 
After torturing him with the fear of perdi- 
tion for some time, Jemima, in token of 
her great forbearacc and loving kindness 
to all dutiful and penitent members of her 
community, and in consideration of his ex- 
treme distress and deep humility fdr all 
his sins, and this his most heinous one in 
particulr, condescended to let him off with 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 169 

a small portion of that punishment with 
which he had been at first threatened ; 
winch was no other than to wear a sheep 
bell suspended from his neck by a small 
rope, for three weeks, in public and pri- 
vate, and to appear thus accoutred at all 
their public meetings and evening sittings 
during that time. He no doubt thought 
himself extremely iortunate in escaping 
so easily, and ascribed his exemption 
from a more terrible punishment to the 
benignity of his beloved mistress. He 
therefore, cheerfully assumed this degrad- 
ing badge of submission and slavery, and 
patiently acquiessed in his sentence as to 
the time and manner of wearing the bell 5 
nay, he became a little ostentatious in his 
compliance with these orders, as evincing 
greater devotion to the Friend, and of 
cours • more religion than was commop to 
the other members, while Jemima and her 
coadjutors secretly laughed at his ignq- 
ance, his stupidity and his folly. 

Another having given Jemima oflenco 
by some unseemly trick, not necessary 
here to be mentioned, was sentenced to 
wear on his head a black cap for two or 
three weeks. This sentence was cairicd 
into execution with the same punctuality 
as the former, and the poor man who suf- 
fered this penaity to propiciate offended 



170 jdKMoiit or 

majesty, no doubt considered himself 
lucky in escaping a still greater punish- 
ment. 

It was no uncommon thing for Jemima 
and Sarah to indulge themselves in mirth 
and laughter at the oddities of their fol- 
lowers ; and the ignorance, credulity and 
stupidity of these deluded people were fre- 
quently the subject of sport and sarcastic 
remark between them. It is not essential 
to, nor perhaps consistent with, the char- 
acter of the true christian to be continual- 
ly wrapped in mystery and gloom, or to 
seclude himself altogether from a social 
and cheerful intercourse with his fellow 
man ; but it is scarcely to be tolerated in a- 
ny one, and particularly in a professor of 
religion to ridicule and sneer at those acts 
of devotion which others, i« the sincerity 
of their hearts, think it their duty to per- 
form, much less can a justification be im- 
agined for the founder and governncss of 
an infatuated Society, in ridiculing that 
deportment which she required of its mem- 
bers, and that credulity and delusion 
which she had brought upon them. 
When she arrived at Newtown, on her 
way to the " promised land," a number of 
persons came to the beach and met them 
at their landing. On their approach, Jemi- 
ma seeing that several of them, particular- 






JEMIMA wrLfclNSON. 171 

ly some hoys and young Indians on the 
bank of the river, were not very genteelly 
apparelled, jocosly remarked, lo Sarah 
Richards, "see how the fig-leaves rattle;" a 
person standing near enquired her mean- 
ing, when finding she had been overheard, 
very gravely explained herself by saying, 
"iSow the Lord hath come among them, 
they are all pre^.rcd with an excuse (or 
the misdeeds they have done, and these 
excuses are the fig-leaves to which the 
Friend alludes." Whether this was the 
true explanation of her meaning, or the 
result of her re idy wit in devising the 
means of concealing her levity, is perhaps 
immaterial, as in either case we have the 
strongest evidence of her hypocrisy and 
falsehood ; for if she intended to ridicule 
their tattered garments, which was un- 
doubtedly the fact, her explanation was 
not true ; and il that was not her inten- 
tion, she was guilty of falsehood and im- 
posture in pretending to be their Lord. 

Although Jemima gave an obvious pre- 
ference to the females over the males in 
all matters and things relating to the gov- 
ernment and wellfare of the Society, yet 
in her intercourse with strangers and peo- 
ple not belonging to her community, it 
was apparent that she always preferred 
the company of men to those of her own 



172 MEMOIR OF 

sex. She showed also a particular partial- 
ity for gentlemen of education and litera- 
ture, and appeared desirous of obtaining 
useful information from them whenever 
she had an opportunity. And in return, 
she would endeavor to requite them for 
her improvement on literary and scienti- 
fic subjects, by imparting to them some 
disinterested advice in relation to their 
present and future state, in which she 
would sometimes venture to recommend 
her creed as the only safe and sure system 
of religion. This taste for literary com- 
pany and thirst for knowledge increased 
with her years, and in the latter part of 
her life became exceedingly strong and she 
suffered no opportunity to pass unimprov- 
ed of adding to her stock of legal acquire- 
ments. But this is easily accounted for 
by the circumstance of her having had 
much trouble and many suits in relation 
to her property, and it is not surprising 
that she should feel a strong inclination to 
cultivate an acquaintance with those prin- 
ciples and legal maxims which constitute- 
our only security in the enjoyment of pri- 
vate property. Jemima preached against 
the vanity of riches, and the sinfulness of 
the pride and pompt of the world, and in- 
culcated meekness and humility, while, at 
the same time, she was not only avaji- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 173 

cious, but haughty and vainglorious; and 
despised the poor whether they were her 
followers or not. Her attempts to gain 
prosolytes were always among those who 
had property and the means of assisting 
towards her own support ; but the indi- 
gent she considered as a burthen, and 
kept them from her presence. Although 
they might be fed in her kitchen when 
they came to her house, yet she would 
not suffer them to approach her. On be- 
ing informed that she had been charge^} 
with this partiality among her followers, 
she replied, "1 do not choose to have my 
house overrun with such creatures; they 
are no company for any body. There are 
persons whose company is agreeable to 
me, and them [ will entertain; but the 
low set I will not be troubled with." 

There was a woman belonging to the 
society whose family was poor, and who 
lived very unhappily with her husband. 
He had no faith in the divinity or morali- 
ty of Jemima, and was not well satisfied 
with his wile's connexion with the soci- 
ety. He sometimes ridiculed her credulity, 
and she defended her creed and taith with 
the greater obstinacy. She was disposed 
to part with him and join herself to the 
household of the Friend, but this Jemi- 
ma would not permit ; but enjoined it up- 



174 MEMOIR OF 

on the woman, to stay with her husband 
" to torment him, for his obstinacy in a- 
busing and speaking ill of the Friend." 
In a conversation with an acquaintance, 
about a year before her death, Jemima 
gave the above reason for prohibiting this 
unfortunate follower from coming to live 
with her, and added, that should they 
separate, it would only produce trouble to 
herself, as the woman was poor and had 
nothing to bring with her, and of such she 
had too many already. She also expres- 
sed herselt in terms of strong resentment 
against the husband, and repeated, "1 
will compel her to stay with him, to re- 
venue myself on him for his obstinacy 
and profligacy :" and evinced a most ma* 
lignant temper towards him, and a to- 
tal apathy towards his unfortunate wife, 
whom, by her incantations, she had ren- 
dered miserable. 

While Jemima resided in Pennsylvania, 
a Mrs. L. joined her society, and as her 
husband was a wealthy man, great pains 
were taken to induce him also to become 
3 member. Being deceived by the many 
stories which were circulated of the mys- 
teries and miracles of the Friend, he be- 
came a steady attendant at her meetings, 
and for a while Jemima, thought herself 
&i\ro of him. But making rather too bold. 



JKMIMA WILKI.VSOX. 175 

an attempt upon his purse, she gave him 
the alarm. Her avarice appeared to him 
aJtogetliT inconsistent with the character 
to which she pretended, and his doubts 
and his fears on this subject, led him to a 
rational enquiry into her pretensions and 
conduct; which brought him to the con- 
clusion that the less he had to do with 
her the better, and he q^cordingly with- 
drew altogether. But his wife had be- 
come so perfectly infatuated that she 
could not be prevailed on to leave Jemi- 
ma without her consent, and this, as 
might naturally have been expected, was 
not given, so long as there remained the 
most distant prospect of obtaining him. 
But after giving up all hopes of succeed- 
ing with him, and finding the woman 
brought nothing into the" Society but 
trouble and expense, Jemima dismissed 
her and sent her back to h?r husband and 
family, after an absence of near seven 
years. 

There are many other instances in 
which the conduct of Jemima in relation 
t& the 'government of the Society and, tho 
procurement of new members, elcarly 
proves that, she cared but little for tho 
poor, and that her chief attention was 
paid to the wealthy, from whom she do- 
rived the means of supporting herself and 



176 MEMOIR OF 

her honsshold; and that her care of the 
souls of men were graduated according to 
the property which they possessed and 
the proportion which she expected to ap- 
propriate to her own use. 

Jemima was extremely superstitious, 
and as her followers generally adopted her 
sentiments and followed her advice in all 
matters of faith and mystery, they, for the 
most part, became equally so. Every ex- 
traordinary occurrence which happened at 
home or abroad, whether it concerned 
them or not, was foreseen by her in a vi- 
sion or a dream, and after the public had 
become fully informed on the subject thro' 
the ordinary channels of information, she 
could inform her people of the dream she 
had, or the vision she had seen at the very 
moment the affair happened. She was 
excessively fond of relating her dreams, 
some of which were very extraordinary, 
if they were really the dreams of sleep, or 
not, as we have great reason to suspect, 
the vagrant reveries of her wakeful mo- 
ments. Of these she had a great variety, 
which, if collected and properly arranged, 
would make a volume about equal to 
"Mother Bunch's Fairy Talcs." From 
the following specimen the reader may 
form a pretty correct idea of the whole 
catalogue. 



JEJIIMA WILKINSON. 177 

"I dreamed," she said, " that I saw the 
whole universe called to judgment by the 
sound of the last trumpet — I was among 
the last who obeyed the summons, and 
the most undistinguished among the in- 
numerable assembly. Suddenly 1 beheld 
a cross in the heavens hovering directly 
over my head, and at the same time I 
heard a voice from some hidden place 
proclaim 'the last shall be first and the 
first last: come forth ye chosen of" the 
Lord ;' and at that moment I awoke to the 
sad realities of this life." 

A young gentleman residing in her 
neighborhood having noticed her fondness 
for dreams, and dreaming, and feeling in- 
clined to flatter her vanity, visited her on a 
certain occasion, and very gravely inform- 
ed her that he had recently experienced a 
very singular and extraordinary dream, 
nnd was in great difficulty as to its true in- 
terpretation. She was highly delighted 
with this reference to her wisdom from a 
person " of the world," and of whom, until 
then, she had never entertained any hopes. 
She therefore very graciously desired him 
to give her a circumstantial relation of 
his dream, and she had no doubt but the 
true interpretation would be revealed to 
her. He accordingly proceeded to state 
that in his dream he " had seen a mighty 



178 MEMOIR OP 

tempest accompanied with thunder and 
lightning, and hail and rain, which con- 
tinued for many days, That the floods 
came and swept the plains and vallies 
with destruction, and at length covered 
the whole country. And he saw the af- 
frighted inhabitants fleeing in the greatest 
consternation and confusion, to the tops of 
the highest hills and mountains, whither 
they were pursued by the desolating flood. 
In the meantime he saw ' The Universal 
Friend of Mankind' in a great vessel re- 
sembling in its form and appearance the 
pictures which he had seen of Noah's ark, 
with all her followers on board, and float- 
ing safely on the the top of the angry tide. 
And he saw great multitudes who were 
driven about among the foaming billows, 
and near drowning, approached the ark 
and beg for admittance, and call upon 
the name of i The Universal Friend of 
Mankind' to come and save them. But 
they were told that they had rejected her 
offers and neglected her counsel all their 
lives ; that the day of her grace was past, 
and they must take the consequences of 
their obstinacy and unbelief. Thus they 
were. rejected and all were swallowed up 
and destroyed, except Jemima and her 
followers." 

ghe then assured him that his dream 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 17 J) 

was too plain in its meaning to require an 
interpretation, and that at some future pe- 
riod, which she did not then choose to 
name, it would be literally fulfilled ; and 
that, as it proved her system to be the on- 
ly true one, and the ark of safety, it ought 
to admonish him and all others of the 
dangers of delaying until the threatened 
calamity should come upon them, 

The relation of this pretended dream 
gave Jemjma much satisfaction; and on 
many occasions she gravely rehearsed it 
as a revelation, of the judgment which a- 
waited those who continued obstinate in 
J rejecting the faith. 

Dreaming, and seqing apparitions^ and 
hearing extraordinary noises and. ominous 
rounds, were very common to the Socie- 
ty, in which all the members were allow- 
ed to participate ; and whoever had the 
most ingenuity in fabricating or embellish- 
ing a tale of wonder, was sure t.Q : dish up 
the greatest treat.— But the manufacturing 
of visions and foretelling future events 
(after they had happened) being a business 
of too delicate and intricate a nature to 
be entrusted to unskilful hands, was alto- 
gether monopolized by Jemima. She did 
not, it is true, enjoy the exclusive right 
by virtue of letters patent from the gov- 
ernment, though she might perhaps havjs 



180 MEMOIR or 

been well entitled to it as the oniginal in- 
ventor, yet as her inhibition had, as to her 
followers, the sanction of law, her privi- 
leges in this respect were rarely or nev- 
er encroached upon. Sarah Richards 
was, however, by special favor, and per- 
haps for special purposes, permitted to 
take a share in this employment. There 
was moreover, some necessity for this in- 
dulgence to Sarah. She was an active- 
minded enterprising person, as proud and 
as high spirited as Jemima, and had be- 
come so well acquainted with her secret 
history, as to place the latter completely 
in her power; her acknowledgment of Je- 
mima's supremacy was no more than was 
requisite to enable her to maintain, by de- 
lusion, their authority over the members 
of the Society; her obedience was merely 
nominal and rendered only in return for 
such condescensions as she chose to in- 
sist upon from Jemima. She was also at 
least as well, if not better, qualified to act 
this part than Jemima; as her fits were 
denominated trances, and as there could 
be but little difference between the two in 
the minds of those who knew nothing a- 
bout either, she could impose a belief in 
the one, when from the presence of the 
other, she was incapable of any thing else. 
During the time she resided with Jemima 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 181 

they were mutually dependent upon each 
other, for, although it would have been 
in the power of either, at any time, to ex- 
pose the true character of the other, yet as 
the consequences would have been fatal 
to the prospects and prosperity of both, 
neither chose to try the experiment^ 
They therefore made out so to manage 
their own private affairs, as that if any 
difficulties ever happened, they were kept 
secret from their followers, and the ut- 
most harmony appeared always to have 
existed between them. 

The power and spirit of prophecy were 
possessed by Jemima, and exercised by 
her on many occasions, and she ostenta- 
tiously boasted of having predicted the 
Revolution in France, the beheading of 
Louis, the destruction of the Koyal fami- 
ly, the downfall of the French monarchy, 
and many of the most important events 
which have since happened in Europe. 
The invasion of Russia by Bonaparte in 
1S12, his discomfiture, his subsequent bat- 
tles and defeats, his deposition and retire- 
ment to the Isle of Elba, his return to Pa- 
ris, the battle of Waterloo, and his final 
dethronement and imprisonment at St. 
Helena, all took place, as she pretended, 
in exact fulfilment of her prophecies 

She also prognosticated an insurrection 



TSi MEMOIR Of 

among the blacks in one of the Southern 
states, the late war between this country 
and England, the capture of the city of 
Washington, and the defeat of the Bniish 
troops at New Orleans, together with ma- 
ny other importent events which occur- 
red during the war. But in all these 
cases, it happened, most unfortunately 
for her veracity, that "nobody knew any 
thingof her prophecies until after thec- 
vents, to which they related, had trans- 
pired and become matter of public noto- 
riety. 

In one instance, however, she ventured 
to disclose a prediction before its fulfil- 
ment : This, also, was in relation to Na- 
poleon Bonaparte. She was a great ad 
mirer of this enterprising and victorious 
chieftain, and her partiality for him proba- 
bly constituted the inspiration which dic- 
tated her prophecy. She said "he was 
an instrument in the hands of the Al- 
mighty for the purpose of bringing all the 
nations of the earth under one govern- 
ment, preparatory to the second coming 
of the Lord; that he would return to 
France, become again a mighty conquer- 
er and subject the whole world to his 
sway." Jemima set a great value on this 
prophecy, and appeared to rely with the- 
utmost confidence upon the exact fulfil- 



J1SMIMA WILKIXSOX. 1#3 

ment of it. She communicated it to a 
number of persons whose confidence and 
good opinion she wished to gain, to the 
end, that the final accomplishment of this 
prediction should convince them that her 
claims to divinity were well founded. 

Having assumed the character of a Sa- 
vior of the world, Jemima soon found it 
^expedient to lay claim to the possession 
of those powers which distinguished the 
Messiah, and which by affording occular 
demonstration of his authority, were more 
peculiarly calculatedtto convince the be- 
holder of the divinity of his person and 
the truth of his mission. She therefore, 
id a very early stage of her career, pre- 
tended to possess, not only the spirit of 
prophecy, but the power of working mira- 
cles. This was the most impolitic of all 
her pretensions, as it afforded a criterion 
by which it could easily be determined 
whether she possessed any qualifications 
not common to her sex. Being fully sen- 
sible of the danger of detection, she care- 
: fully forebore attempting any extraordi- 
nary performance, contenting herself with 
simply asserting her powers, without 
deiguing to condescend to the exercise of 
them, and it was not until her veracity 
came to be doubted, and her character 
began to suffer, even among her follow- 



184 memoir or 

ers, that she yielded to the necessity of at- 
tempting to work a miracle. Those who 
had no faith in her preaching, and looked 
upon her as an impostor, stated to her 
that Jesus Christ walked on the water, 
and if she was charged with a divine mis- 
sion from Heaven, it was expected she 
could do the same ; and some of her fol- 
lowers also felt a strong desire to see her 
give some evidence ot the truth of her 
assertions concerning herself, by which 
they might not only become more per- 
fectly satisfied themselves, but with which 
they could effectually answer the reasons 
and arguments made use of by their ene- 
mies. Jemima finding herself thus beset 
on all hands, was at length compel kd to 
undertake the hazardous experiment of at- 
tempting to walk on the water. Trust- 
ing therefore tj accident and the resources 
of her cjunning mind for escaping expos- 
ure, she appointed a time at which she 
would meet her friends on the margin of 
Taunton river, in the town of Swauzey, 
and convince them of the reality of what 
she had taught them to believe, by walk- 
ing on the water. She mode her ap- 
pearance at the time and place appointed, 
where she was met by a large collection 
of people, eager to witness tho exhibition 
which hud been promised them. She 



JEMI3IA WILKINSON. 185 

then commenced with an eloquent and 
fervent prayer, with which she occupied 
their attention a considerable time-, after 
which she proceeded to the delivery of a 
discourse, in which she lectured her audi- 
ence with considerable ability and with 
great severity, particularly on account of 
their want of faith. She told them that if 
they had faith to believe that she could 
perform the work of the Lord, they 
might rest satisfied, for it should be 
well with them, and as tc those who did 
not believe, they are " an evil genera- 
tion : they seek a sign; and there shall 
no sign be given it, but the sign of Jo- 
nas the prophet."* u Why doth this gen- 
eration seek after a sign ? Verily I say 
unto you, there shall no sign be given 
to this generation. "t " A wicked and a- 
dulterous generation seeketh after a sign ; 
and there shall no sign be given unto it, 
but the sign of the Prophet Jonas.'*t She 
continued her discourse at considerable 
length, admonishing her friends to beware 
of the doubts and difficulties thrown in 
their way by a wicked world, which was 
meantby an "evil generation." She also 
reproved those who came the?e to gratify* 
an idle curiosity, instead of listening to the 



*Luke xi ; 29. tMark viii ; 12. tMatthew xvi ;JL. 

Q 



186 MEMOIR OF 

voice of truth, and was particularly severe 
and bitter against those who had required 
this evidence of the truth of her words. 
She then addressed the whole in kind and 
affectionate langage, proclaimed that she 
was the " Universal Friend of Mankind," 
and that those who believed in the truth 
of her doctrines, obeyed her precepts and 
followed her advice, would be sure of a fi- 
nal pasport to Heaven, while those who 
denied her authority and rejected her 
counsels, would be cut off without the 
hope of pardon or mercy. After hearing 
her through and receiving her blessing, 
the assembly seperated and peaceably re- 
tired to their homes, some filled with awe 
and fear of her power and authority, 
some with commisseration at her delusion, 
and others with contempt for her hypoc^ 
ricy. 

This occurrence became the subject of 
mirth and ridicule to those who did not 
belong to the Society, and afforded them 
the means of annoying her followers, by 
putting them in mind of the cheat which 
Jemima had practiced upon their creduli- 
ty. But this defeat made no visible im- 
pression on their minds, nor did it at all 
shake the confidence they pretended to re- 
pose in her perfectibility. The subject 
was duly canvassed among themselves in 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 187 

their own way, and although she had not 
seen fit to walk on the water on that occa- 
sion, they thought she had given a very 
satisfactory reason for the omission ; and 
that whenever it should suit her conven- 
ience she would no doubt perform such a 
miracle as would satisfy them all. As a 
story never loses any thing by traveling or 
repetition, so the relation of this adventure 
increased in importance as it was handed 
from one to another, until on reaching her 
distant followers, it was magnified into a 
miracle of the first water, and many who 
were always ready to believe any tale, 
however preposterous, provided it went to 
establish the character of Jemima as a 
Prophetess, undoubtedly believed the fact 
as firmly as they believed in their own ex- 
istence. Jemima therefore derived from 
this abortive attempt, all the benefit, as it 
respected the faith of her followers, which 
she could have received from the most 
] complete success ; and besides, it taught 
her the expediency of choosing her own 
mode of working miracles, in order to in- 
sure the greater facility in palming these 
impostures upon her deluded followers. 

Jemima was for some time in doubt as 
to the effect her late attempt at working a 
miracle would produce upon the public 
mini. With respect to her followers she 



1#8 MEMCIR OF 

had but little difficulty in reconciling 
them to whatever she chose to require, 
particularly in matters of faith and mys- 
tery. In this instance she saw that no 
sensible diminution of confidence had been 
produced among them, and as to the opin- 
ion of the world, she pretended that it 
gave her no concern, otherwise than as 
their stubbornness and unbelief subjected 
them to the danger of beinor cut off from 
all hopes of future happiness. 

The next scheme projected by Jemima 
for proving her infallibility, and convincing 
doubters of the truth of her mission, was 
to heal the sick. As an attempt of this 
sort would not be so public in its nature, 
nor so likely to expose her to immediate 
detection, she naturally calculated upon a 
greater probability of success, in case she 
could find a fit opportunity. Nor was 
it long before an occasion presented it- 
self every way to her liking. A miss Sa- 
rah Stone had been violently ill and was 
just beginning to recover, when Jemima 
called to heal her malady. A considera- 
ble number of her followers assembled to 
witness the ceremony. Jemima having 
prayed with them, took the patient out of 
her feed, and placed her in an easy chair 5 
and then delivered an exhortation, in 
which she asserted her power to heal the 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 189 

sick, and recommended to the girl pa- 
tience, resignation and faith, particularly 
the latter, pretending that the good effects 
of what had been done, depended altogeth- 
er on her fctith in the power which she 
possessed of working miracles, — and prom- 
ised her a certain and speedy recovery 
in case she exercised a sufficient degree of 
faith. She then ^departed, and the young 
woman regularly and slowly regained her 
health and strength, probably in the same 
manner as she would have done had Je- 
mima let her alone. But she had been 
sick, the Friend had visited her, and 
promised her a certain restoration to 
health, and she was now completely re- 
stored. All therefore, who chose to be- 
lieve in the miraculous effects of Jemi- 
ma's impertinent interference, were at full 
liberty to enjoy their opinions, and to as- 
sert the infallibility of their riiistress^ when- 
ever, and as often as suited their conven- 
ience. But those who did not belong to 
the society considered it a mere trick 
which the most stupid must easily under- 
stand ; they thought little cf it, and the 
circumstance was soon forgotten, and 
probably would never have been recol- 
lected had it not grown into a miracle on 
traveling a little way from home. This 
trifling occurrence was of great service tb 



190 MEMOIR OP 

Jemima. The tale was told to her dis- 
tant followers with variations and exag- 
gerations, was handed from one to anoth- 
er, rehearsed in the public meetings and 
evening sittings of the faithful, with a 
train of circumstances which never exist- 
ed, until it assumed the form and sub- 
stance of a full grown miracle. Thus the 
members were prompted to greater zeal 
in her service, and thereby some little ad- 
ditions were made to their different Socie- 
ties. 

The success of this miracle added 
greatly to the satisfaction and pride of Je- 
mima, and rendered her people more de- 
voted to her service, more easily govern- 
ed, and withal, a little more liberal in 
their donations for her support, which lat- 
ter was a point of the first importance to 
her, and to which she always attended 
with the utmost care and solicitude. 

She now projected another visit to 
Pennsylvania, and called upon the mem- 
bers to provide the means of prosecuting 
her journey with ease and comfort. They 
readily furnished her with the necessary 
supplies, and Jemima, attended as usual, 
proceeded on her way rejoicing at the 
complete success of this paltry contriv- 
ance, by which she had gained so many 
ndvantages. This was her secorjd jour* 



JEMiMA WILKINSON. 191 

ney to Pennsylvania, and at this time she 
formed a regular Society at Worcester, 
and, as will readily be seen, she was much 
assisted by the rehearsal of all the cir- 
cumstances of her great achievement in 
healing the sick, was now multiplied into 
a dozen, at least, of as wonderful miracles 
as ever were wrought since the foundation 
of the world. Here the effect produced 
by the promulgation of these idle stories* 
was much greater than it had been in 
Rhode-Island, not that the people were 
greater fools, for that was impossible, but 
because there was a sufficient number to 
affirm to the truth of them, and no one to 
contradict, or even explain the circum- 
stances. Those who had become follow* 
ers rejoiced at this new evidence of the di- 
vinity of their Idol, the wavering were 
confirmed, and many were added to their 
numbers, so that this Society, though re- 
cently formed, was nearly as numerous, 
and at least as wealthy and zealous as 
that in Rhode- Island. Jemima did not at 
this time attempt any marvelous exploits 
at Worcester, but her attendants were 
very anxious to sieze upon some circum- 
stance, out of which they could manufac- 
ture a miracle by the time they should 
visit their New Engl arid friends. When- 
ever any were sick in her Society, it was 



193 MEMOIR OF 

their custom to send for Jemima, who nev- 
er failed to visit them on these occasions. 
In two or three instances during her stay- 
she was called to visit persons whe. were, 
or pretended to be, indisposed^, and who 
wert*. apparently in perfeect heallh ihe day 
following. In these cases the sudden re- 
covery of the patients was ascribed alto- 
gether to the exercise of the power of Je- 
mima to heal the sick, so that on their re- 
turn to Rhode-Island her attendants had 
ten or a dozen very respectable miracles 
to give an account of, and which were, as 
usual, listened to with open mouthed won- 
der, by her adoring followers. - Although 
Jemima saw distinctly the good effects 
produced by these deceptions, and felt 
much elated with her success, yet she was 
cautious of attempting them too often, lest 
she should miscarry in some of her 
schemes, and thereby lose the advantages 
which she had thus gained. She there- 
fore made a shift to get along with the 
concerns without attempting any new or* 
marvelous performances. 

But at length it became necessary to re- 
sort to her old practices in order to keep 
up appearances, and to sustain the droop- 
ing confidence of her followers. The 
stories of healing the sick, becoming stale 
and uninteresting, by being repeated a, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 19$ 

thousand times, they began to wish for 
some new evidence of the power of Jemi- 
ma. Those who really believed in ihese 
miracles, entertained no doubt but that 
she could repeat them wheuever she 
pleased, and those who suspected the de- 
ception were equaily well satisfied that 
she was sufficiently skilful to exhibit an- 
other specimen of this ledgerdemain with- 
out exposing herself to detection. The 
whole Society, therefore, now became 
anxious to witness a further display of 
her power, and a more striking illustra- 
tion of her character. Jemima was per- 
fectly aware of this disposition on the 
part of her people, and had been for some 
time preparing the means of gratifying 
it. But as the trick of healing the sick 
had already produced all the effects that 
could be expected from it, she had deter- 
mined on a new and more imposing mir- 
acle, and had accordingly taken measures 
for raisi?rg the dead. 

There was at this time an interesting 
young womau residing with Jemima, who 
had been for a considerable time a faith- 
ful and favored follower, and who was 
the subject upon which this miracle was 
to be performed. It was arranged by Je- 
mima that this person should feign her- 
self sick, and, while she remained seclud* 

E 



194 MEMOIR OF 

ed from company, it should be publicly 
stated, from time to time, that her malady 
was increasing, until finally it should be 
announced, that her spirit had left its tab- 
ernacle of clay, and ascended to the man- 
sions of bliss. The usual preparations 
for her interment were then to be made, 
she was to be put in a coffin so construct- 
ed as to admit a sufficient quantity of air 
to support life — Jemima was to preach a 
funeral sermon, and lastly, when the pro- 
cession was proceeding to the burial 
ground, Jemima was to walk by the side 
of the coffin, constantly and vehemently 
engaged in prayer, and at a suitable time 
she was to pray to the "Father in Heav- 
en, to restore their dear deceased friend to 
life, for the sake of the Lamb that was 
slain." Whereupon the girl in the coffin 
should give a signal by imitating the 
groans and struggles of a person recover- 
ing from a fit ; the coffin was then to be 
set down and opened, and she being found 
alivg, was to finish the farce, and consti- 
tute the miracle of raising a dead person 
to life. Horrible and hazardous as this 
blasphemous project may appear, yet this 
bold and profligate woman had the hardi- 
hood to commence her operations, and 
actually attempt carrying it into effect. 
The young woman pretended to be un- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 195 

well, and then so ill as to be confined to 
Her bed. Jemima, under the pretence of 
her being a "dear and favorite follower," 
took upon herself the care of her patient; 
she would not allow any physician to be 
called in, neither was any person, except- 
ing those who from necessity were in- 
trusted with the secret, permitted to see 
her or even to come into her room. Her 
nearest friends were members of the flock, 
and durst not disobey Jemima, they could 
not therefore interfere. Some two or 
three who had been her companions, be- 
ing alarmed on account of the dangerous 
situation in which she was represented to 
b3, called at the house, and begged ad- 
mittance, but were uniformly and perti- 
naciously refused. Jemima and her 
creatures informed them, that the young 
Friend was in the hands of the Lord, who 
would deal with her for the best, and that 
they need give themselves no trouble on 
the subject ; that if her hour was come she 
must depart, and if not, they would in due 
time see her restored to health. As Jemi- 
ma had been a long time meditating this 
project, and preparing the means for car- 
rying it into execution, her arrangements 
and the discipline of her confidants were 
such that she found no difficulty whatev- 
er in continuing the deception until the 



196 memoir or 

seventh day of the pretended sickness of 
her patient, which was intended to be the 
tast ; fluting all which time she had suc- 
ceeded in every respect to her entire satis- 
faction. The followers of Jemima be- 
lieved that she could heal the sick, and 
hoped that, as she had not for a long time 
exercised this prerogative, she would con- 
sider the present as a favorable opportuni- 
ty for making another manifestation of her 
power and glory, and therefore entertain- 
ed strong hopes that this favorite of the 
Friend would suddenly be restored to 
health. Tins idea was countenanced by 
various hints and half expressed sentences 
from one to another, until it became gen- 
eral among the members throughout the 
neighborhood. Among tire inmates of Je- 
mima to whom the true secret ot this fnrce 
was necessarily confined, was a compan- 
ion of the sic/: sister, who was much at- 
tached to her. She bad from the com- 
mencement of this scheme felt a strong 
repugnance to it. and had at first yielded 
her asse.it in obedience to the authority of 
her mistress; but she now became alarm- 
ed with the horrid nature of the impos- 
ture in which she was acting a pur!, and 
knew that in case they should succeed ac- 
cording to their -calculation, the secret 
couid not be kept but by a continued per- 



JKMIMA WILKINSON. 197 

severance in falsehood during her whole 
life. She had therefore determined oi> 
breaking up the show, if possible, and if 
not, to retire from any further participa- 
tion in its guilt. 

Jemima was called from home about 
three miles to visit one of her follower* 
who had been recently taken ill, and be- 
ing in great distress, had sent a very ur- 
gent request to the u Universal Friend" to 
come without delay. The two young 
women being left alone a part of the time 
during Jemima's absence, had an ample 
opportunity of canvassing the merits of 
the business in which they were engaged. 
The one who was to have acted a subor* 
dinate part, represented to her companion 
in very strong language, the impropriety 
of their conduct, and that for herself, she 
was determined to proceed no further in 
it. She also advised her friend to desist 
immediately, and urged as a reason, the 
great danger she was in— that it was a 
most infamous imposture, and a horrible 
profanation — that it would be in no wise 
extraordinary if her Maker should be of- 
fended at such blasphemies, and strike her 
dead the moment her decease was an- 
nounced abroad, and thus make a reality 
of that which they had intended only as 
an experiment upon the credulity of aa 



198 MBM01K OF 

innocent people. She urged also as an* 
other strong reason why there was more 
-danger in this mock tragedy than they 
had at first imagined, that if the cheat 
should be suspected, and charged upon 
them, she would be sacrificed for the pro- 
tection of the Friend's reputation, as she 
would sooner bury any one of her follow- 
ers alive, than be detected in such an im- 
posture, and that in this instance she 
could do it with impunity in case there 
should be danger of exposure. These 
arguments alarmed the patient exceeding- 
ly, and if they did not improve her health, 
they certainly cured her of all inclination 
to be put into a coffin. 

After remaining a short time at the bed 
side of her follower, Jemima returned 
home full of anxiety for the success of her 
project, and determined that nothing 
should again divert her attention, for a 
moment, from a personal superintendance 
of the whole operation. But on her arri- 
val she found the measures, which she 
had concerted with so much skill and 
care, for working one of the most wonder- 
ful miracles that ever was heard of, en- 
tirely deranged. She made an attempt, 
however, to mend matters, by endeavor- 
ing to reconcile her patient to continue 
the farce. But all to no purpose. She 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 1$9 

had become so thoroughly frightened with 
the idea of being laid out in the dress of 
a corpse, and put into a coffin, that the al- 
ternate threats and promises which were 
liberally dealt out, produced no effect. 
Jemima was therefore obliged, though 
very reluctantly, to relinquish the hope of 
immortalizing her name by restoring to 
life a dead body. 

Although she was under the absolute 
necessity of abandoning all hopes of suc- 
cess in the original project, yet she not 
only succeeded admirably in extricating 
herself from the dilemma in which she 
was placed by her patient's refusal to die, 
but actually turned the affair to a consid- 
erable account. It had been announced 
during that afternoon, that the young la- 
dy was evidently very near her end, that 
she was helpless and speechless, and that 
there was in reality no probability that 
she could live through the night. Sever- 
al of the followers were collected at the 
Friend's house to enquire after the health 
of the young woman, and on being told 
that her case was considered hopeless, 
were exceedingly sorrowful, and lament- 
ed the untimely fate of their dear sister, 
and likened her to a fragrant flower cut 
down and withering e'er the sun of life 
had kiss'd from its bloom the morning 



300 MEMOIlt OF 

dew of its existence. While they were 
thus mourning over the approaching fate 
of their companion, and gravely morali- 
zing on the uncertainty of human life, 
and the fleeting vanity of all things be- 
neath the sun, Jemima was very different- 
ly and more earnestly occupied. She 
was closeted with her patient, endeavor- 
ing, aft-r she found there Was no proba- 
bility whatever of succeeding in the ori- 
ginal project of raising the dead, to ex- 
tort from the girl a promise of secrecy, 
and to induce her to consent to be sudden- 
ly raised from a bed of sickness to perfect 
health. She had become so much alarm- 
ed with her situation, that she hardly 
knew what to do with herself, she abhor- 
red the fraudulent enterprise in which she 
had been unwarily led to engage, and 
was, determined to abandon Jemima the 
first convenient opportunity. But as yet 
she was in her power, and durst not of- 
fend her for fear she might yet be sacri- 
ficed. She was also extremely anxious 
to be discharged from her confinement, 
which could not be done without Jemi- 
ma's consent. She therefore at length 
yielded a reluctant consent to be healed 
Of her malady, and to keep secret the fact 
which Jemima was so anxious to conceal. 
Having thus happily succeeded in secur- 



JEMIBIA WILKINSON. 201 

ing her retre.it, Jemima immediately 
made preparation for healing her sick pa- 
tient, which was, with all due form and 
solemnity, announced to the company 
present. The door of the pretended sick 
room being then thrown open, discovered 
a small table, on which were placed three 
candles, Jemima standing behind it and 
in front of the bed on which her patient 
quiety reposed, and so situated that the 
audience could have but a very imperfect 
view of any thing in the room but Jemi- 
ma and the two sisters, to whom the se- 
cret had been confided. Jemima com- 
menced the ceremonies with a short ex- 
hortation, in which she discanted largely 
upon the fidelity, the virtue and piety of 
their suffering sister, the great loss her 
death would occasion to the Society, and 
how thankful they should all be in case 
the beloved could be restored to health, 
and required them to join with her in a 
fervent supplication to the Father, that 
the sick might be made whole. She then 
prayed for a considerable time with great 
earnestness, and ended with a petition 
that their dearly beloved, sick, and dying 
sister, might be immediately restored to 
health. Then turning to the bed she 
took hold of the young woman's hands, 
«md raised her up to a sitting posture, and 



202 MEMOIR OF 

spoke to her, when to the astonishment 
of all present, she answered in a strong- 
distinct voice, and effectually convinced 
them that she was as well as any one of 
them. Jemima then returned thanks 
for the sudden restoration of one of the 
Lambs of the flock, gave her visitors her 
blessing, and sent them home to their sup- 
pers. The next day many of the follow- 
ers called to see the person who had been 
raised, as they supposed, from death's 
door, and to congratulate her on her 
speedy recovery. As Jemima would not 
permit her to see company out of her 
presence, there was no opportunity of 
any explanation except such as would 
continue the cheat, and the followers be- 
lieving that she had been very sick, and 
now seeing her in perfect health, were 
ready to affirm unequivocally that Jemi- 
ma had performed a most wonderful mir- 
acle, and believed that those who denied 
the divinity of her person, and the reality 
of her miracles, were without the hope or 
posibility of salvation. This perform- 
ance was much better authenticated than 
the former one, and for a while gained 
her great credit with the members of the 
Society ; and the farce was performed 
with so much skill and address, and the 
reality of the miracle so vehemently and 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 203 

unanimously affirmed to by the followers, 
that an impression was made upon the 
minds of a few credulous persons, who 
soon after joined the Society. 

By this happy contrivance she not only 
extricated herself from the most difficult 
and dangerous predicament in which she 
had ever been placed, but obtained new 
laurels to her earthly crown, by adding to 
her catalogue another most remarkable 
and well authenticated miracle. It was 
firmly believed by all her followers, and 
by many others not doubted, that the girl 
had been at the point of death, and they 
all now saw her in the enjoyment of a full 
measure of health and strength, without 
exhibiting the least trace of the ravages of 
the terrible disease with which they sup- 
posed she had been recently afflicted. It 
was in their opinion, a miraculous recov- 
ery, produced not by the ordinary means 
of the healing art, nor by human agency, 
but by the immediate interposition of Al- 
mighty power, manifesting itself in the 
person of the " Universal Friend of Man- 
kind," to convince an unbelieving world 
of the sanctity of her mission and the di- 
vinity of her person. Those therefore, 
who still withheld their belief in these un- 
hallowed pretences, were in the broad 
road to destruction, and those who wero 



304 MEMOIR OP 

satisfied with the delusion, and were zeal- 
ous to spread the fame of the Friend, and 
the account of her mighty doings, were 
sure of the rewards which she never fail- 
ed to promise to the faithful, and to those 
who should "persevere to the end." But 
the danger of detection from which Jemi- 
ma had so narrowly escaped, made a last- 
ing impression upon her mind, and in- 
duced her to resolve never again to at- 
tempt a miracle. 

A very particular and most exaggerat- 
ed account of this hypocritical farce was 
transmitted to the governess and leading 
members of the Society in Pennsylvania, 
which was read and listened to with ex- 
travagant admiration, by those confiding 
and deluded people. 

The effect produced by the receipt of 
this grateful intelligence was even great- 
er than was anticipated by Jemima, and 
was sufficient to serve the purposes of the 
holy sisterhood for a considerable time; 
for the followers, by endeavoring to im- 
pose a belief in this miracle upon others, 
so committed themselves, as to the verity 
of the facts and the undoubted ability of 
their Idol to perform these wonders, that 
they had no pretence ever after to ask her 
to undertake a like performance ; and she, 
remembering the danger of detection to 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 205 

which she had heen exposed in this in- 
stance, very prudently resolved never a- 
gain to hazard her character and conse- 
quence by a further prosecution of this 
miracle-making business. 

Some time after, however, the whole 
mystery of this shallow cheat was unveil- 
ed with a full disclosure of all the cir- 
cumstances attending it. On the discov- 
ery of the robbery of the Treasury, Je- 
mima fled from Rhode Island with" such 
precipitation, that she had neither time 
nor opportunity to give directions for the 
police and good government of the flock 
in her absence, but left the faithful to 
shift for themselves. The young woman 
who Jemima intended to have raised from 
the dead, in case she could have persuad- 
ed her to die, and upon whom this most 
invaluable m racle had been wrought, was 
now no longer under the control of Jemi- 
ma, and being left to the government of 
herself, was one of the first to abandon all 
connexion with the remnant of this bro- 
ken Society, and to expose the cheats and 
mock mysteries by which their Joving 
mistress had governed and fleeced her 
unfortunate followers, and among other 
things, gave a detailed account of the con- 
duct of Jemima in relation to this pretend- 
ed miracle. 



206 MEMOIR OF 

After succeeding in the establishment 
of her Societies in New England, and se- 
curing an almost absolute control of the 
members in respect to their spiritual con- 
cerns, Jemima began, very early, to evince 
a strong propensity to intermeddle in the 
direction and disposal of their temporal 
affairs. She found no difficulty in learn- 
ing the secret history ot every family to 
which any one of her followers belonged, 
and was always regularly informed of all 
incidents, which from time to time occur- 
red in any part of the Society, which were 
carefully treasured up and held in reserve 
to be resorted to as occasion might require. 
The first and greatest object of her anx- 
ious cares was the accumulation of a for- 
tune which should at once render her 
independent of any contingencies which 
might happen to the Society, and the 
ordinary vicissitudes of human life, and 
enable her to maintain that superiority in 
her style and equipage, to which her pride 
and ambition always aspired. And al- 
though the professions, and probably the 
opinions of Jemima underwent many mu- 
tations and changes during her priesthood, 
yet, in this respect, she was always uni- 
form; her avarice increased with her 
years, and continued until the close of her 
eventful career. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 207 

Next to her ambition and zeal in the 
acquirement of wealthy she was distin- 
guished by her constant assiduity in pry- 
ing into, and endeavoring to control, the 
private family concerns of her followers ; 
and in early life arrogated to herself the 
right of negociating or prohibiting matches 
among the younger members, in all cases 
giving or withholding her consent, as 
should best suit her own interested views. 
In these matters she became a most able 
and skilful manager; she obtained the 
entire disposal of her unmarried followers, 
no one daring to contravene her injunc- 
tions, whatever violence their inclinations 
might suffer by a compliance. But in 
respect to herself, she was far less fortu- 
nate. Unwilling to sacrifice her affections 
or her vanity upon the altar of expediency, 
and being unable to draw into her clutch- 
es any one to whom she would consent 
to surrender her independence, she was a 
long time tossed between hope and fear, 
and was alternately the victim of her 
inclinations and her pride. Although she 
found no difficulty in procuring husbands 
for her sisters, and other female followers, 
yet every attempt to accommodate herself 
was frustrated, either by her own self- 
importance, or the inconstancy of her 
admirers. That season of life in which 



*20B MEMOIR OF 

she could reasonably expect to form nn 
advantageous connection was fast passing 
away — attentions from the other sex, to 
which she had l>een long accustomed, and 
which never failed to flatter her vanity, 
were gradually withdrawn, and she at 
length awakened to the mortifying reality 
that she was abandoned by all her ac- 
quaintance, excepting those deluded be- 
ings who had surrendered themselves 
entirely to her direction, and whom she 
despised for that very weakness and folly 
which had rendered them subservient to 
her authority. Her unfortunate acquaint- 
ance with the British officer at New- Pert, 
and the bitter recollection of the conse- 
quences which resulted from it, rankled 
in her breast, she became disgusted with 
the idea of matrimony, and finally, when 
all hope of an eligible settlement had fled 
forever, she made up her mind to remain 
single, and devote herself to the care and 
government of her flock. But she had 
not, as yet, discovered that marriage was 
en enormous crime, the commission of 
which would subject its perpetrator to 
eternal misery. 

Sarah Richards, who has been already 
mentioned as one of Jemima's followers, 
was an interesting and accomplished wo- 
man, and had more talent and address 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 209 

than any other member of the Society, 
and, saving the credit which Jemima had 
with her followers as their spiritual lead- 
er^ she was in all respects her equal. 
Sarah had been reputably married, and 
had lived a short time very happily with 
her husband. But on the birth of her 
child, she had, through a painful and pro- 
tracted illness, suffered almost everything 
but death itself, and on her recovery, she 
made a most solemn vow, that she would 
never be the mother of another child. 
She afterwards abandoned her husband 
and joined herself to Jemima's household, 
bringing her daughter Eliza with her, 
who was now about two years old. 

From the circumstances already related, 
it will appear that both these women had, 
though from different motives, resolved 
on the same course of life. After becom- 
ing initiated into the mysteries of the sis- 
terhood, Sarah Richards proposed the idea 
of prohibiting matrimony among the fol- 
lowers, to which Jemima readily assented, 
and this new item was without delay add- 
ed to her creed, and preparations immedi- 
ately made for promulgating it to the 
members, cfi the Society. 

Jemima relied principally on the influ- 
ence of her dreams and visions, and hex 
authority over her. people, for a complk 

8: 



SIO mkmoik or 

anoe with this now requisition. In sup 
port o( this doctrine, she quoted the 12lh, 
loth and loth verses of the 6th chapter of 
Romans, with many other passages of 

Scripture, and cited the example ol Sarah 
Kiehards. whom she represented to them 
as a holy woman, who. on becoming ac- 
quainted with her duty to God. had left tier 
husband and devoted herself to the service 
of the Lord) and the welfare Of the Society. 
She represented marriage as a foul stain 
upon the character o( a professor of roll 
gion, and upon religion itself, and as an 
abomination which could, not be indulged 
in but at the hazard of eternal misery, 
She denied that it was an institution sanc- 
tioned by divine authority, or that it w 
consistent with the duty o( man to his 
Maker. She said it was an in i o\ 

Wicked men. tor the purpose of enslaving 
the female pari o( the creation, and sedu 
cing them from the paths &f religion and 
their duty to the Lord, and that it must 
be renounced by every man and woman 
who hoped for salvation. She said fto 
use her own words' 1 that it was " ihe 
damnable doctrine of heresy, and Ctyffle 
from the bottomless pit. whither all those 
would be sent \vh m immediately 

reject it." The introduction 01 tb 
trine by Jei md the manner of en 



JKMIMA WILKI.XsON. 211 

forcing it among her people, has been 
before mentioned ; we will therefore now 
proceed to take notice of th.j consequences 
arising from it, together with sonte anec- 
dotes intimately connected with this part 
of her history- 
Deborah Wilkinson, Jemima's younger 
sister, was yet unmarried, and a mutual 
attachment existed between her and a 
young man of the name rf Benojah Hots- 
ford, who occasionally paid her his atten- 
tions ; and at the time that Jemima first 
published her interdict against matrimony, 
they were engaged, and expected soon to 
be married: But Jemima fulminated her 
anathemas with such vigor and authority, 
as to check the proceedings of the young 
couple, and to induce them for a while to 
lay aside all thoughts of a union. They 
both belonged to the society, and being 
extremely unwilling to provoke the re- 
sentment of Jemima, or brave the censures 
of their fellow members, they agreed to 
give up all further thoughts of marriage, 
and confine themselves to a mutual inter- 
change of friendly sentiments and kind 
offices, which they vainly imagined would 
secure their happiness through life. 

But the laws of nature were not thus to 
be trifled with; the spark of affection had 
been kindled, and they soon found that all 



212 MEMOIR OF 

their efforts to repress its effects served 
but to light it into a flame which they 
could neither control nor conceal. Jemi- 
ma, alarmed at this backsliding in two of 
her favorite followers, and fearing that if 
they set at nought her counsels and diso- 
beyed her commands, her authority over 
the other members would be materially 
weakened, resolved upon a measure which, 
if successful, would gratify her spleen 
and secure the obedience of her followers ; 
and if unsuccessful, would leave 'her 
where she began. This was to banish 
Botsford. She summoned him into her 
presence, and read him a most terrible 
lecture on his fall from grace, and his 
disobedience of the commands of the Lord, 
reproached him with giving himself up 
to the dominion of the fiosh and the ser- 
vice of the devil, and with attempting to 
allure to destruction one of the dearest 
lambs of the Lord's flock, and enjoined 
him in the most severe terms not to jeop- 
ardize the present and eternal welfare of 
both Deborah and himself. And as she 
had discovered that they would be in con- 
tinual danger of committing the abomina- 
ble crime of fornication, (for such she 
accounted all intercourse between husband 
and wife,) unless they \yere separated until 
they could effectually subdue their unruly 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 213 

passions, she was under the necessity of 
directing him to leave the country and 
never return thither without her permis- 
sion. She ordered him to start immedi- 
ately for Nova Scotia, and denounced 
against him the most tremendous curses 
in case he did not forthwith obey her 
commands. She insisted upon his taking 
up his cross and pursuing his journey 
without a murmur, and cautioned him 
not to loiter by the way, nor cast a long- 
ing, lingering look behind; reminding 
him of the punishment inflicted upon Lot's 
wife for looking back when fleeing out of 
Sodom. 

Poor Botsford, who had been a submis- 
sive subject of Jemima, and was much 
esteemed by his fellow members, now 
considered his doom as finally fixed. He 
had, therefore, nothing to do but to pack 
up his scanty wardrobe and commence 
his journey. He pursued his way with 
cheerful diligence, consoling himself un- 
der his hard destiny, with the reflection 
that he was fulfilling his duty, and with 
, the hope that obedience and repentance 
would in time procure for him a full par- 
don and permission to return to his native 
land. Deborah was much disappointed 
and distressed on* learning the fate of 
Botsford ; she had a strong attachment 



214 MEMOIR OF 

for him, and had long been wavering 
between her allegiance to Jemima and her 
affection for her lover. But seeing no 
prospect of mending matters by quarrel- 
ing with her sister, she silently acquiesced 
in the procedure, and applied herself with 
increasing assiduity in pleasing and assist- 
ing Jemima. After the lapse of about 
three years, Botsford obtained leave to 
return, upon the express condition, how- 
ever, that he should make no farther ad- 
vances in his courtship with Deborah : — 
But no sooner had they met again than 
the old flame burst forth with redoubled 
violence. Jemima, astonished and en- | 
raged at their temerity, summoned th^m 
into her presence, and gave them both a 
very angry and terrible scolding, threat- 
ening them with the most dreadful pun- 
ishments, both here and hereafter, if they 
disobeyed her commands, and declared 
that if they did marry, she would cast 
them off forever, and would If never again 
speak to them, or of them, in time or eter- 
nity." After pronouncing this terrible 
malediction, she gave Botsford an abrupt 
and haughty dismissal, and ordered De- 
borah to her room. 

They removed to the Lake country 
along with their friends, where they were 
soon after married, which so enraged Je- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON* 215 

mima, that, in part fulfilment of her threap 
she refused during the residue of her life 
to speak to them or mention them on any 
occasion whatever. 

Botsford died some years before Jemi- 
ma. When on his death-bed, his wife 
sent an earnest request to her sister, to 
visit them, with which Jemima reluctantly 
^complied. There were several of the 
^neighbors present to whom she delivered 
a short exhortation, but even under these 
distressing circumstances she obstinate- 
ly persevered in her refusal to speak 
^to him, to mention his name, or even 
make any personal allusion to him. — 
1 Although Jemima was of an implacable 
'temper, and never forgave those who were 
so unfortunate as to fall under her dis- 
pleasure, without the most humble and 
abject submissions, yet it can scarcely be 
•believed that she had cherished her resent- 
^ment against her sister and brother for so 
many years. It is much more probable 
^that her unnatural treatment of them, on 
this occasion, arose from the recollection 
J of the rash promise which, in a moment 
'of passion, she had made them, and the 
vain hope that by perseverance she should 
convince her followers that her decrees 
were immutable, and that what "The 
Friend" had once spoken was unalterable. 



216 MEMOIR OF 

Although Jemima failed in many of her 
attempts to break up matches among the 
younger members of the Society, yet she 
succeeded in several instances effectually 
to separate those who were bound togeth- 
er by the most ardent attachment. They 
applied to her for permission to marry, 
and in the most humble terms, besought 
her to. have compassion on them, and' 
grant them a dispensation. But it was to. 
no purpose that they pleaded their inabil-. 
ity to conform to her precepts* the ardor 
of their attachments, or the distress .they 
endured. In vain did they promise the 
most faithful and constant obedience to . 
all her requirements, and entire devotion 
to the interests of the Society. Their 
entreaties served only to harden her heart 
and render her the more deaf to all their 
petitions - r: for by asking her consent j in, 
the first instance, they plainly showed that 
they dared; not to intermarry without it ; 
and it was a prominent trait in, the char- 
acter of ;this petty tyrant, never toyield a. 
point, even of the smallest 'importance, in 
favor of apy member of the Society, un- 
less compelled by unavoidable necessity. 

Having represented matrimony to be 
unlawful, and inconsistent with the spirit 
and principles of religion, it became ne- 
cessary, in order to be , consistent i$ he? t 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 217 

mischief, not only to endeavor to prevent 
the union of her followers, but to attack, 
and if possible, separate those who had 
been married previous to their acquaint- 
ance with her. As this part of her scheme 
was more difficult and hazardous in the 
execution, she proceeded to the underta- 
king with corresponding intrepidity and 
impudence, and although she failed in a 
few instances, yet a general and cheerful 
compliance was yielded in many cases 
where bolh husband and wife were un- 
der her influence. But with those mem- 
bers who were connected in wedlock with 
"persons of the world? (a descriptive ap- 
pellation given by Jemima to all who did 
not belong to her Society) she found much 
difficulty in enforcing a compliance with 
her requirements, and in some instances 
rendered the victims of her incantations 
the most miserable of human beings. 
Feeling the full force of all those natural 
and almost indissoluble ties which bind 
rational and accountable creatures to their 
families, and relations, and connect them 
together in the social circle, on the one 
hand, and on the other, fearing the author- 
ity, and dreading the displeasure of a be- 
ing whom they believed held a mysteri- 
ous intercourse with the world of spirits, 
and was the agent of Almighty power, 



218 memoir or 

fears, doubts and difficulties presented 
themselves on all sides : halting between 
two opinions, equally called upon to pur- 
sue, at the same time, two courses which 
led in opposite directions, and fearing to 
choose either, their struggles were long, 
painful and violent. But the withering, 
the destroying influence of Jemima at 
length prevailed ; natural affection was 
hurled from her throne, the ties of kin- 
dred severed, and the unhappy devotees 
" taking vp their cross" as they expres- 
sed it, abandoned their homes, their dear- 
est connexions in life, and repaired to the 
standard of Jemima, and dedicated them- 
selves to her service. Knowing the weak- 
ness of our nature, and the instability of 
all those resolutions which are taken in 
violation of the strongest affections which 
pervade the human "breast, Jemima lost 
no time in securing the conquests which 
she thus gained over these deluded and 
unhappy beings. Nor was this a difficult 
task. She had learned much of human 
nature, and from long experience and 
close attention, she readily understood the 
character of her new proselytes, the state 
of their minds, and the most effectual 
means of engaging their affections and 
securing their confidence. She received 
them with a mixture of gracious conde- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 210 

scension and solemn dignity, and com- 
mended the zeal and faith which they had 
manifested in giving up the pleasures, the 
fashions and the follies of a wicked world, 
and devoting themselves to the service of 
their Lord. She treated them with kind- 
ness and indulgence, and exhorted them to 
wean themselves from the objects of their 
former affections, which they had now left 
behind, and surrender themselves entire- 
ly to her guidance and direction, as the 
only means of escaping those terrible ca- 
lamities which she denounced against all 
those who contemned her counsels and 
rejected her creed. Her care and atten- 
tions were unremitted until she believed 
them so firmly fixed in the faith that there 
would be no danger of desertion, when 
they were necessarily neglected, in some 
measure, to enable her to bestow the same 
attentions on other new converts, while 
the strictness of her discipline was grad- 
ually increased. 

This change in her demeanor occa- 
sioned many to abandon her after an ac- 
quaintance of several years. But some 
few were so wrought up by the various 
contrivances of their adroit governess, that 
nothing could ever shake their confidence 
in the Friend, or awaken them to a sense 
of their duty to themselves or their fami. 



220 XtiMOtR or 

lies. One of the followers of this descrip- 
tion was the wife of a respectable mer- 
chant in Providence, who, during the 
rambles of Jemima in that neighborhood, 

had become acquainted with her, listened 
to her new scheme t)f religion, and at 
length became sd infatuated with it, that 
she abandoned her family and joined tho 
Society, from which neither the solicita- 
tions of her friends, the cares of her fam- 
ily, nor the calls o[ duty, were ever able 
to detach her. There are, perhaps, but 
tew instances to be found in modern his- 
tory oi a more fatal delusion than was e- 
vinced by this misguided fanatic. She 
had been married several years, was rep- 
utably connected, well provided tor and 
surrounded by almost every object which 
could render life comfortable and pleas- 
ant, and attach her \o her family, friends 
and society. Her husband had always 
treated her with i he kindest indulgence, 
and since the:r union, had never remitted 
in those delicate attentions which had 
marked his earliest acquaintance with 
her, and their dwelling had been the seat 
of uninterrupted tranquility and happi- 
ness. But tlie destroyer came; — a fe- 
male adventurer, an itinerant dreamer 
and pretender to visions and revelations, 
with her wandering tribe, made her i»p- 



JZMIMA WILKINSON. 221 

pcarance, and alas, this fair picture of hu- 
man felicity was changed to that of mis- 
ery and despair. This deluded creature 
suddenly abandoned tier home, joined the 
sisterhood, and shortly alter accompanied 
Jemima in one of her rambles to Pennsyl- 
vania. 

This precipitate step produced a shock 
to the mind of her too food husband, from 
the effects of which he never recovers d. 
Seeing all his hopes of prosperity and hap- 
piness thus blasted, he gave himself up # a 
prey to grief, a settled and deep melan- 
choly succeeded, his health rapidly de- 
clined, and in less than a year after the 
commencement of his misfortunes, death 
closed the distressing scene. 

With the victim of Jemima's incanta- 
tions it fared but little better. She had 
been much flattered and caressed by her 
new friends as long as they entertained 
hopes of adding her husband to the Soci- 
ety, and his wealth 10 the common stock. 
But on learning his late, and seeing that 
there was no prospect of reaping any ben- 
efit from the adhesion of their new prose- 
lyte, those attentions by which she had 
been distinguished, and which had induc- 
ed her to believe herself a person of con- 
sequence in the congregation of the faith- 
ful, were gradually withdrawn, and she 



222 MBMOIR OF 

was at length reduced to the distressing 
alternative of departing the demicil of her 
friend} and seeking the means of her own 
support among strangers, or of taking her 
station in Jemima's kitchen, as one of the 
domestics of the family. She preferred 
the latter, and here lingered out a short, 
degraded and miserable existence, for- 
gotten by the friends of her youth, un- 
heeded by her companions in disgrace, 
and despised and neglected by her unfeel- 
ing mistress, who had been the cause of 
her seduction, and the agent of the ruin 
of her family. 

Jemima's denunciations of matrimony, 
and the pains which she took, in all cases 
where her influence afforded a prospect 
of success, to separate those who hid been 
joined in wedlock previous to her acquaint- 
ance with them, and particularly where 
only one of the parties became a follow- 
er, constitute the most striking, and per- 
haps the most interesting part of her his- 
tory: and when contrasted with the assi- 
duity with which she conducted the busi- 
ness of match-making in the early part of 
her career, Afforded the strongest evidence 
of the hypocrisy and falsehood of her pre- 
tensions to the character of a prophet and 
teacher of religion. The attempts also, 
which she made, from time to time, to en- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 223 

force a compliance with this part of her 
creed, produced many singular incidents, 
some of which were attended with cir- 
cumstances of the most distressing nature, 
while others were exceedingly amusing in 
themselves, and tended much to the detec- 
tion of the impostures which she attempt- 
ed to practice upon her ignorant disciples. 
Jemima had made a strong impression 
upon the mind of a young woman of her 
neighborhood, who occasionally attended 
her meetings, and who at length becamo 
a member of the Society. This person 
hnd been married but a short time, was 
eligibly situated, happy in the domestic cir- 
cle, and many years yet remained, in which 
it was reasonable to suppose, that thi I 
circle might be extended. The Friend 
professed the greatest regard for her eter- 
nal welfare, and constantly treated her 
with the most kindly attentions, and as 
she gradually stole upon the confidence* 
and affections of her victim, she cautious- 
ly introduced, from time to time, the sub- 
ject of the unlawfulness of marriage ; and 
when she thought herself entirely secure 
in her conquest, attempted to enforce up- 
on her new convert an observance of her 
decrees, and finally succeeded in convinc- 
ing her that it was her duty to separato 
herself from her husband. But as she 



224 MEMOIR OF 

was ardently attached to him and to* her 
family, she requested permission still to 
reside with him, and Jemima entertaining 
strong hopes that lie would also become 
a member, gave her consent, upon condi- 
tion that the non-intercourse act should 
be faithfully carried into execution. The 
husband of this woman possessed a sound 
•understanding, mild temper, and patient 
mind ; he was aware of the true charac- 
ter of Jemima and of the motives which 
governed her conduct, and for ?ome time 
had observed, with painful anxiety, the 
growing partiality of his wife for that 
deluded sect and its crafty leader, and be- 
gan to entertain fears that, unless she 
could be weaned from her new attach- 
ments, the total ruin of his family was not 
far distant. Relying upon her prudence, 
the integrity of her heart, and the cor- 
rectness of those principles in which she 
had been educated, he had indulged her 
inclination to attend the Friend's meet- 
ings, and now discovered her mind to be 
so deeply affected as to render unsafe any 
audden attempt to control or dissipate her 
delusion. He therefore endeavored by 
persuasion, by the perusal of religious 
books and the exercise of reason, to dis- 
pel those mists by which her vision was 
obscured, and to shake her confidence in 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 225 

the perfection of her mistress, but went 
no further than an earnest request, in his 
attempts to prevent her from visiting the 
Friend, or attending her meetings. By 
these mild methods, he partially suc- 
ceeded in enlightening her mind. Her 
zeal became somewhat abated, her scru- 
ples on the subject of Jemima's prohibi- 
tion, were in some measure removed, and 
tranquility and domestic felicity again vis- 
ited their dwelling, and, in process of 
time, this interesting family received an 
addition to its numbers by the birth of a 
promising son. 

Jemima had long rested in perfect secu- 
rity, as it respected the fidelity and devo- 
tion of this woman, and the apparent ac- 
quiescence of the husband in the execu- 
tion of her prohibitory decree, strengthen- 
ed her hopes of adding him to the number 
of her disciples. She was therefore not 
only disappointed, but highly offended to 
find that her precepts had been disregard- 
ed. She visited the family some time af- 
ter, with the intention of calling her fol- 
lower to a severe account for her disobe- 
dience ; but finding her extremely debili- 
tated, from a painful and protracted illness, 
occasioned by a premature exposure to 
cold soon after the birth of her child, she 
smothered her resentment and determined 



228 MEMOIR OF 

on pursuing more mild measures for re- 
claiming and restoring this wandering 
sheep to the true fold. 

During her gradual recovery, Jemima 
made her several visits, and represented 
to her the great enormity of the offence of 
which she had been guilty in neglecting 
the voice of wisdom and the counsels of 
the Friend ; and that her late dangerous 
illness was a signal manifestation of the 
wrath of Heaven, upon those who sinned 
against light and knovvledge, and that but 
for the mediation of the Friend, she could 
never have recovered. She therefore, 
with many professions of love and affec- 
tion for her dear soul, enjoined it upon 
her never to be guilty of the like offence 
again, assuring her at the same time that 
her future and uninterrupted obedience 
was the only condition upon which her 
pardon and restoration to health had been 
obtained, and that in case she should be- 
come the mother of another child, the 
period of its birth would inevitably be 
that of her death. These idle pretences, 
together with many other ghostly admo- 
nitions, being pressed upon the debilitat- 
ed mind of this unhappy woman, made a 
deep impression, and at length recalled 
in her those sentiments of respect for Je- 
mima, and devotion to her cause, which 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 227 

she had formerly entertained. She re- 
ceived a full pardon in dne form from the 
"Universal Friend," renewed her faith, 
was restored to regular membership, and 
continued a steadfast and faithful disciple 
for more than two years. But the laws of 
nature and the decrees of fate are immu- 
table, and the commands of Jemima were 
again found insufficient to counteract the 
operations of the one, or prevent the ful- 
filment of the other. Her dear friend 
whose conversion and fidelity had cost 
her so much exertion, care and watchful- 
ness, once more found herself in a situa- 
tion, which, in due time, must expose her 
to the frowns and maledictions of Jemima. 
She was in great trouble, and remember- 
ing the condition upon which she had, on 
a former occasion, been pardoned, she re- 
solved to repair to the " Universal Friend," 
and moke a full and humble confession of 
all her sins, in the hope of so far propiti- 
ating her mistress as to obtain some miti- 
gation of punishment, if not a full pardon; 
and asked the opinion of her husband as 
to the propriety of the measure. But he 
had become sickened and disgusted with 
the frauds and hypocrisy practiced by Je- 
mima, and on learning the substance of 
her communications to his wife during 
her previous confinement, he blamed him- 



228 MEMOIR OF 

self for not having long before prohibited 
all intercourse between them. He very 
freely gave her his opinion, that Jemima 
was a vile impostor, had ruined many of 
her dupes, and that unless she abandoned 
the Society her destruction and the mis- 
ery of her family were certain ; and abso- 
lutely forbid her holding any further com- 
munion with them. She thereupon grew 
thoughtful and melancholy, her appetite 
failed, her sleep was but a series of broken 
slumbers and troubled dreams, and her 
husband soon became alarmed at the vis- 
ible decline of her health. Knowing that 
it was pretended by the members of the 
Society that Jemima was acquainted with 
their secret thoughts, words and actions, 
and that his wife was also impressed with 
the belief, he enquired of her whether she 
would be satisfied that the Friend was an 
impostor in case it could be proved, in 
such a manner as would preclude the pos- 
sibility of mistake, that this pretence was 
false, and that Jemima was as ignorant of 
their private family affairs as any other 
person ? to which she readily answered in 
the affirmative, believing that such, evi- 
dence could never be produced, and be- 
ing at the same time determined, in case 
it ever should be furnished, to abandon 
her and the Society altogether. He then 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 229 

advised her to go and visit the Friend, but 
by no means to mention her situation, nor 
allude to the circumstances which had 
occasioned her present anxiety, assuring 
her, that if Jemima was not, as had beeu 
often asserted, a vile impostor and hypo- 
crite, she must be then in possession of 
these facts, and would immediately take 
her to task for her disobedience; a mo- 
ment's reflection convinced her of the pro- 
priety of this course, and she promised 
him that she would conduct herself ac- 
cordingly. On her arrival she found the 
Friend paraded in her elbow chair, with 
two of her minions seated at a little dis- 
tance, one on the ri^ht and the other on 
the left, and at the opposite side of the 
room three or four of her followers to 
whom she was giving audience. Jemi- 
ma pointed to a chair, and the visitor be- 
ing seated, a profound silence ensued for- 
two or three minutes, when the former 
unbending a little from the stately gravi- 
ty which she was accustomed to assume 
on the entrance of visitors, addressed the 
other as follows, — "the Friend is very 
glad to see thee, it is nearly a fortnight 
since thee hast been here, is thee well?" 
"Very well,-' answered the other. "Is 
the man that thee lives with welll"* Be- 

* Jemima would never mention husband or wife in 



230 memoir or 

ing answered in the affirmative, she pro- 
ceeded, «thce must visit the Friend often, 
for thee knows the temptations to which 
thee is exposed, and thy liability to go 
astray, and it is well to commune often 
with the Lord, that thee may be preserv- 
ed from falling. Thee has been once dis- 
obedient, and committed a very great 
crime, but the Lord has pardoned thee 
upon condition that thee shall not again be 
guilty of the same offence." She contin- 
ued her discourse for some time, and com- 
mended the penitence and reformation of 
her disciple, and the constancy and self- 
denial with which she had observed the 
precepts of their religion, and adhered to 
the path of rectitude, since receiving her 
'pardon ; she encouraged her to persevere 
in the true faith, and continue in the 
course she had pursued since her restora- 
tion to favor, for which she would receive 
the reward of the righteous. But incase 
she should again fail from grace, and be 
guilty of bearing another child, she would 
be cast off forever without the possibility 
of pardon, and that from thenceforth the 
doors of mercy would be eternally closed 
against her. This lecture effectually 

her conversations with any person in relation to their 
families, but always said** the man," or ** the woman, 
thee lives with." 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 231 

opened the eyes of this deluded follower, 
and convinced her, that instead of know- 
ing her secret thoughts and actions, as 
she had falsely pretended, this impostor 
was as ignorant of her private condvet as 
any other woman in the neighborhood ; 
and the reverence and veneration which 
she had before entertained for Jemima 
immediately gave place to disgust and 
abhorrence, insomuch that, as she after- 
wards declared, it was difficult for her to 
preserve that decorum and sedate deport- 
ment which the rules of good breeding re- 
quired, during the residue of her visit. 

The fatal spell being once broken, she 
readily discovered an easy explanation of 
a multitude of circumstances which had 
before appeared mysterious and unac- 
countable, and her greatest wonder now 
was, not that she had thus suddenly re- 
gained her reason, but that she had ever 
been deprived of it by those shallow arti- 
fices by which Jemima governed her 
vassals. On her return home she gave 
her husband a circumstantial account of 
her interview with the Friend, and ac- 
knowledged with tears of affection and 
gratitude, his kindness and care in extri- 
cating her from the toils of that unprin* 
cipled deceiver. 

From the circumstances which have 



232 J1KM0IR OP 

been stated in relation to the operations 
of Jemima while she resided in Pennsyl- 
vania, it will be seen that her friend Mr. 
W. was probably one of the most obedient 
and devoted disciples in her whole train. 
His wife was an attendant at the meetings 
of the Society, and for several years had 
a high respect for the Friend, but was 
never fully convinced that she was the 
Messiah. But with all the respect of the 
Oije and devotion of the other, Jemima 
was never able to bring them to acknow- 
ledge, practically, the unlawfulness of 
their marriage contract, or that it was a 
crime for them to live together as husband 
and wife. Some time after the promulga- 
tion of Jemima's family interdict, Mrs. 
W., in defiance of her orders and in con- 
tempt of her authority, gave birth to a 
fine lovely daughter. This jealous and 
despotic ruler, had taken unwearied pains 
to secure the entire acquiescence of this 
couple in all the requirements of her sys- 
tem of religion, as their example, whether 
of compliance or disobedience, would ma- 
terially affect her authority over the other 
members of the Society ; and as they had 
already four or five children, enough, as 
she thought, to satisfy them, she had flat- 
tered herself that they would not be guilty 
of an infraction of a decree, the observ- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 133 

ance of which was of vital importance to 
the stability of her government. She v as 
therefore much alarmed and highly en- 
raged at this open contempt of one of Me 
fundamental principles of her religion, 
from so dangerous a quarter. 

As soon as the mother was sufficien \y 
recovered to be able to receive compa y, 
Jemima made them a visit, and took th im 
severely to task for this criminal deprt- 
ure from the path of duty. She said th )y 
had broken the command of the Lo d, 
had been guilty of a voluntary transgr s- 
sion, and had committed a most enormcis 
sin, and that nothing but perpetual a td 
sincere repentance, and future abstinence 
could ever atone for the guilt of t is 
crime, or procure a pardon for the mu-ti- 
plied offences which she well kn w 
they had committed. She told them tl tat 
they ought to lament this deplorable i III 
from grace as long as they lived, and as 
she foresaw that they would be again in 
danger of yielding to the like temptatic i, 
unless they had some striking memer to 
constantly before their eyes, she insist d 
pn naming the child " Lamentation" th at 
thereby its birth should be remerr ben 1 
in all future time, as a cause of lamem z- 
tion and grief to themselves and as n 
admonition to others. This absurd i 3- 



U 



234 MEMOIR OF 

quirement was cheerfully acquiesced in 
by the father, and in compliance with his 
wishes, at length assented to by the mo- 
ther, and the child was named accord- 
ingly. 

But the influence and authority of the 
Friend was insufficient to preserve her 
dear disciples from a repetition of the 
offence, as was proved by the birth of 
another daughter about two years after. 
Jemima had received notice of the ap- 
proaching event, from one of her runners, 
some time before it happened, but post- 
poned the expression of her displeasure 
until the period of the mother's confine- 
ment, as the most favorable moment for 
making a lasting impression on her mind. 
She made her visit accordingly, armed 
with all the terrors of her indignation and 
wrath, and delivered a most violent lec- 
ture upon the misdeeds of these two per- 
severing sinners ; and ended with saying 
that it was "an abomination unto the 
Lord," and declared that the child should 
be named "Abomination" Jemima had by 
this time become so boisterous and abusive 
as to fatigue and offend the good woman, 
and the impudent attempt to stigmatise her 
innocent offspring by giving it such a 
barbarous name, outraged her feelings 
beyond endurance, and she desired Jemi- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON, 235 

ma to leave the house. " The Friend," 
finding she had gone rather too far, at- 
tempted to retrace her steps and bring the 
matter to an amicable conclusion. But 
the old lady had become heartily disgust- 
ed with her impertinent interference on 
the former occasion, and was very willing 
to come to an open rupture with her upon 
the first occasion that should present it- 
self. She accused her of cruelty and 
malevolence in disturbing the quiet, and 
destroying the happiness of private fami- 
lies, and plainly told her that her whole 
scheme of religion was a mere system of 
imposition, fraud and avarice ; that her 
hostility to matrimony and the propaga- 
tion of the human species was dictated by 
spleen and envy at the happiness which 
others enjoyed in the domestic circle, and 
which, but for her own misconduct in 
early life, she might undoubtedly have 
possessed in common with the rest of her 
sex : that notwithstanding all her preten- 
ses to purity, she was no better than she 
should be, as it respected her acquaint- 
ance with men, and as she had no occa- 
sion for her company, ordered her in the 
most peremptory manner, to go about het 
business and never show her detested face 
in her house again. 

This rebuff was delivered in such a 



23 MEMOIR OP 

re )1 ute manner, and the immediate de- 
pa ture of Jemima was so vehemently 
in isted upon, that she was obliged to re- 
trt it without the ceremony of a parting 
flu swell, and what grieved her much 
m re sorely, was that she saw no prospect 
of ^ver being able to regaiu her influence 
ov r this devoted family. 

emima had always been accustomed 
to deal out her anathemas with a most 
lit jral hand, against those who offended 
he , or withdrew themselves from the 
Sc 'iety. But in this instance she was 
ob iged to hold her peace and smother her 
re jntment. She was known to be under 
so many obligations to this man, particu- 
lar y for his assistance and hospitality, 
ai] I in return for which, she had bestow- 
ed on him so many commendations, and 
fo his piety and liberality in "lending to 
th Lord" had so often and so publicly 
ht d him up to the other members of the 
S( nety, as an example worthy of all imi- 
ta on, that she dared not to denounce 
V( lgeance against him, nor persevere in 
a (uarrel with him or his family. He 
al 3 had committed himself by defending 
hi faith and justifying the conduct of the 
F iend, on so many and such public occa- 
si ns, that he felt equally averse to the 
cc atinuance of a broil between her and 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 237 

his family; and his wife, now consider- 
ing herself independent of the superin- 
tending care and spiritual assistance of 
the woman she despised, was willing to 
forgive Jemima, and forget, if possible, the 
outrage which she had committed on her 
feelings, provided she should not again 
be subjected to the assaults of her inso- 
lence and malice. The matter therefore, 
by the common consent of all parties, went 
quietly to sleep, and the old gentleman 
adhered to the Society, in a state of pas- 
sive membership, during the residue of 
his life ; and this crafty and politic man- 
ager, who could always accommodate her 
religion and morality to any circumstan- 
ces which promised success to her enter- 
prises, finding that she could not enforce 
their obedience to this favorite article of 
her creed, not only forgave him, unsoli- 
cited, this enormous and almost unpar- 
donable sin, but afterwards when the 
same offence was repeated, in the birth of 
their youngest child, she took good care 
to say nothing on the subject which would 
be likely to wound his feelings or offend 
his wife. But this instance of toleration 
was almost a solitary exception to her 
general rule, and to this she was driven 
by necessity, which was the only law that 
ever controlled her conduct or limited her 



238 MEMOIR OP 

in the gratification of her desires. Every 
measure which was dictated by her ca- 
price or avarice, however unimportant in 
itself, was prosecuted with the same ener- 
gy and perseverance as if it had been an 
object of the greatest moment ; and her 
exertions in compelling the acquiescence 
and co-operation of her followers, were 
always continued until they were crown- 
ed with entire success, or met with a total 
defeat. Her boldness and fortitude, or 
rather obstinacy form the most prominent 
trait in her character, and are strikingly 
illustrated in every important undertaking 
which marked her eventful career. 

In establishing a new system of reli- 
gion, Jemima was particularly careful to 
imitate, as little as possible, the forms and 
ceremonies of every sect and denomina- 
tion of Christians. She never adopted 
any regular code of ordinances for the 
temporal government and discipline of 
her flock— whether she found a difficulty 
in framing any set of rules for this pur- 
pose, without copying after some other 
system, and thereby forfeiting her claim 
to originality, or whether she chose to 
make her will the law of the Society, and 
to subject the members to the domination 
of her capricious mind, is uncertain ; but 
it is well known that she issued her Com- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 239 

mands to her followers, rewarded some 
and punished others, and dispensed threats 
and promises from time to time, as circum- 
stances occurred, without regard to prece- 
dents, and without the aid of any general 
^ rules whereby the members could regu- 
clate their deportment. The summary 
c manner in which she exercised her au- 
thority, and the tame submission of her 
[people, secured her against the charge of 
, partiality; for if anyone complained of 
her tyranny and oppressions, (which rare- 
ly ever happened,) they were sure to be 
answered, " It is the will of the Universal 
c Friend," and there the matter ended ; for 
. she would never condescend to explain 
f the reasons of her conduct, nor suffer oth- 
jers to do it for her. It was her preroga- 
tive to give orders and directions, and 
j their business to obey them, and in pro- 
cess of time these principles, being reduced 
] to practice, and sanctioned by long and 
, uninterrupted usage, and the common 
, consent of all parties concerned, became 
• at length a law to the members, and th* 
r only basis upon which the secular govern- 
j ment of the Society rested. 

The administration of their spiritual 
affairs was regulated much after the same 
manner. Jemima published certain di- 
rections for the government of the reli- 



840 MEMOIR OF 

gious conduct and communion of her fol- 
lowers, and although this was done by 
way of advice, yet a most scrupulous and 
conscientious obedience was always ex- 
acted. These admonitions also varied 
from time to time, according to the several 
mutations which her system underwent, 
and the mood in which she happened to 
be, or the interested motives by which she 
might be governed, at the moment of dis- 
pensing them. That part of her advice 
in which she was most uniform and con- 
sistent, and which seems to have been the 
most disinterested, was the following: — 

"The Public Universal Friend adviseth 
all who desire to be one with the Friend 
in spirit, and wise unto salvation, that 
they be punctual in attending meetings, as 
many as conveniently can ; that they meet 
together at the tenth hour of the day, as 
near as may be; that those who cannot 
well go to meetings sit down at their sev- 
eral homes about the time meeting begins, 
in order to wait for and upon the Lord ; 
that they shun, at all times, the company 
of the wicked world, as much as possible; 
and when any of you are under a neces- 
sity of being with them, that you do your 
business with few words, and retire from 
Ihem as soon as you can get your business 
done, remembering to keep on your watch, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 241 

and pray for assistance, especially when 
the wicked are before you; that you do 
not enquire after the news or public re- 
ports of any one, and be careful not to 
spread any yourselves that is not of the 
Lord; that you deal justly with all men, 
and do unto all men as you would be 
willing they should do unto you ; and 
walk orderly that none occasion of stum- 
bling be given by you to any; do good 
•unto all as you have opportunity, espe- 
cially to the household of faith; live 
peaceably with all men, as much as possi- 
ble ; in a special manner do not strive 
against one another for mastery, but all 
of you keep your ranks in righteousness, 
and let not one thrust another ; let not 
debate, evil surmisings, jealousies, evil 
speaking or hard thinking, be named 
among you, but be at peace among your- 
selves; take up your daily cross against 
all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and 
live as you would be willing to die, loving 
one another, forgiving one another as ye 
desire to be forgiven by God and the Holy 
One. Obey and practise the divine coun- 
sel ye have heard, or may hear, from time 
to time, living every day as if it were the 
last, remembering you are always in the 
presence of the high and lofty One who. 
mhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy g 



242 MEMOIR OF 

and without holiness no man shall see the 
Lord in peace. Ye are to shun the very 
appearance of evil in all things, as foolish 
talking and vain jesting, with all unprofit- 
able conversation, which is not conven- 
ient, but flee from bad company as from a 
serpent ; and be not drunk with wine or 
any other spiritous liquors wherein is ex- 
cess. And when you come into meetings 
or evening sittings, make as little stir as 
possible, that you may not disturb the sol- 
emn meditations of others. And endeavor 
to meet all at one time, and keep your 
seats until meeting is over, except on some 
extraordinary occasions. Use plainness 
of speech and apparel, and let your adorn- 
ing not be outward but inward ; and fol- 
low not after the follies and fashions of a 
wicked world, which lead down to the 
bottomless pit ; but keep yourselves a sep- 
arate and distinct people, even as ye are, 
the chosen of the Lord." 

To conform to these directions, and 
such others as she occasionally gave them, 
and above all, to "render unto Cassar the 
things that are Caesar's," and yield obedi- 
ence to all her co??imanlts, was the great 
duty which her religion enjoined upon her 
followers, and the fulfilment of which 
would, as she taught them to believe, en- 
title them to eternal happiness. She re- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 243 

jected the sacraments, and almost all the 
doctrines, rites and ceremonies which are 
acknowledged or practised by the Chris- 
tian church. She said that " baptism, as 
now used in the world, is altogether 
wrong, that there is but one baptism, that 
of John, which is preparatory to the com- 
ing of a greater than him." No singing 
or melodies were allowed in her meetings, 
and instead of cultivating a cheerful or 
lively expression of the feelings of piety 
and devotion, a surly gravity and myste- 
rious gloom was inculcated, and during 
their hours of worship her congregation 
exhibited a group of the most devout look- 
ing faces that can well be imagined. 

The most profound attention was al- 
way paid to the exercises, which consisted 
in exhortations, lectures and preaching, 
and in the early part of her ministry 
prayers also were used. But the form 
and substance of the latter were said to be 
peculiar to herself, and somewhat resem- 
bled conversations with an invisible per- 
son, on the subject of her religion, the 
faith of her followers, and the welfare of 
the Society. But in all her prayers, or 
whatever else they might be called, she 
never alluded to Jesus Christ as a media- 
tor, but frequently mentioned the " Fath- 
er and the Holy One," and " God and his 



244 MEMOIR OF 

Holy One" — and whenever she expressed 
any thing like a petition, it was addressed 
to God " for the sake of the Lamb which 
was slain." But for many years previous 
to her death she laid aside this part of pub- 
lic worship altogether, and some who 
were well acquainted with her supposed 
that prayer had never formed a part of 
her religious exercises. Her preaching 
consisted chiefly of quotations from scrip- 
ture, interlarded with a few select senten- 
ces and excogitated phrases which she 
had prepared for the purpose, and which 
were always at her command She had 
committed almost the whole of the Bible 
to memory, and on the slightest allusion 
being made to any part of it, she would 
repeat the language correctly and without 
the least hesitation. She was therefore 
always supplied with matter and lan- 
guage for her sermons, and but for the fa- 
tigue of talking, could as well preach a 
whole day as half an hour. The follow, 
ing extract comprises the form and sub- 
stance, as well as can be recollected, of 
one of her discourses, and as they were 
all very nearly alike, this, with a few va- 
riations, may be considered a tolerable 
specimen of her whole system of sermon- 
ising. 

"My beloved friends, on meeting to,- 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 245 

gether again to hear the word of the 
Lord and meditate on his goodness and 
gracious promises to the faithful, it be- 
hoves you to gather in your wandering 
thoughts, that you may sit down in sol- 
emn silence, and wait for the aid and as- 
sistance of the Holy Spirit, that ye may- 
worship God and his Holy One in spirit 
and in truth, and in a meek and quiet 
spirit, which is in the sight of God of 
great price, as saith the Psalmist, it is 
most like the King's daughter, who is all 
glorious within, her clothing is of wrought 
gold. Consider how great a thing it is 
to worship God and the Lamb acceptably, 
who is a spirit and must be worshipped 
in spirit and in truth. Therefore deceive 
not yourselves by indulging drowsiness 
or other mockery, instead of worshiping 
God and the L^imb. God is not mocked, 
for such as each of ye sow the same ye 
must also reap ; if ye sow to the flesh, ye 
must of the flesh reap corruption ; but if 
ye are so wise as to sow to the spirit, ye 
will of the spirit reap life everlasting. 
For to be carnally minded is death, but to 
be spiritually minded is life and peace; 
because the carnal mind is enmity against 
God, for it is not subject to the law of 
God, neither indeed can be. So then they 
that are in the flesh cannot please God ; 



246 MEMOIR OF 

but ye are not in the flesh, but in the 
spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell 
in you. For if ye live after the flesh, ye 
shall die ; but if ye through the spirit do 
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall 
live ; for as many as are led by the spirit 
of God, they are the sons of God. For ye 
have not received the spirit of bondage 
again to fear, but ye have received the 
spirit of adoption, whereby ye cry Abba 
Father. Ye cannot be my friends except 
ye do whatsoever I command you ; there- 
fore be not weary in well doing, for in due 
season ye shall reap if ye faint not. Those 
whose mouths have been opened to speak 
or pray in public, are to wait for the mov- 
ings of the Holy Spirit, and then speak or 
pray as the Spirit giveth utterance, not 
running without divine authority, nor 
speak nor pray any longer than the Spirit 
remains with you, nor linger when moved 
to speak, as mouth for the Holy One, or 
moved to pray with the Holy Spirit, that 
all contention, strife, confusion, jarring or 
wrong speaking, may have no place among 
you ; nor use any whispering among any 
of you, for whisperers separate chief 
friends. That above all, ye give all dili- 
gence to make your calling and election 
sure, and work out your salvation with 
fear and trembling, redeeming your time, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 



247 



because the days are evil. That ye may 
be found without spot or rebuke before the 
Lord ; that ye may be delivered from the 
bondage of corruption, and brought into 
the glorious liberty of the sons of God, 
where the morning stars sing for joy, and 
all the sons of God shout for joy, having 
oil in your vessels, with your lamps, like 
the wise virgins', trimmed and burning, 
having on your wedding garments, that 
when the Holy One ceaseth to intercede 
for this dying world, you may also appear 
with him in glory. Ye who are parents, 
or intrusted with the tuition of children, 
consider your calling and the charge com- 
mitted unto you, and be careful to tang 
them up in the nurture and admonition of 
the Lord, and educate them in a just and 
and reverent regard thereto. And whilst 
you are careful to provide for the support 
of their bodies, do not forget the welfare 
of their souls, seeing the earliest impres- 
sions in general last" the longest; as it is 
written, train up a child in the way he 
should go, and when he is old he will not 
easily depart from it ; and let your exam- 
ples teach as loud as your precepts. Chil- 
dren, obey your parents in all things in 
the Lord, for this is right and acceptable 
in the sight of God ; and honor your fa- 
ther and your mother, and the way to 



248 MEMOIR OF 

honor father and mother is, not to give 
them flattering titles or vain compliments, 
but obey the counsel of the Lord, and obey 
them in the Lord. As saith the wisdom 
of the Lord by the mouth of the wise king 
Solomon, my son forget not my law, but 
let thine heart keep my commandments, 
for length of days, long life and peace shall 
they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth 
forsake thee, bind them about thy neck, 
write them upon the table of thine heart ; 
so shall thee find favor and good under- 
standing in the sight of God and man. 
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, 
and lean not to thine own understanding; 
in all thy ways acknowledge him and he 
shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in 
thine own eyes, but listen to the counsel 
of the i Universal Friend,' and fear the 
Lord and depart from evil. Hear ye chil- 
dren the instruction of a father, and attend 
to know understanding, for 1 give you 
good doctrine — forsake ye not my law. 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of 
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and 
instruction. My son hear the instruction 
of thy father and forsake not the law of 
thy mother, for they shall be an ornament 
of grace unto thy head, and chains about 
thy neck. My son, if sinners entice, con- 
sent thou not ; if they say, come, let us 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 249 

lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for 
the innocent without cause, let us swal- 
low them up alive as the grave, and whole 
as those that go down into the pit, we 
shall find all precious substance, we shall 
fill our houses with spoil ; cast in thy lot 
among us, let us all have one purse— mv 
son walk not thou in the way with them 
refrain thy foot from their path ; for their 
feet run to evil, and they make haste to 
shed blood. They lay wait for their own 
blood. They lurk privily for their own 
Jives; so is everyone that is greedy of 
gain, that taketh away the lives of the 
owners thereof. And all of you be care- 
ful not to grieve away the Holy Spirit 
that is striving with you in this your day 
of visitation, and setting your sins and 
short comings in order before you ; but 
turn ye at the reproofs of instruction, 
which is the way to life. 

"Masters, give unto your servants that 
which is lawful and right, and deal with 
other people's children as you would be 
willing others should deal with you and 
your children also in your absence; know- 
ing that whatsoever ye would that others 
do to you, ye ought to do likewise unto 
them, for this is the law and the prophets. 
Servants be obedient unto your masters 
according to the flesh, in singleness of 



250 MEMOIR OF 

heart, with fear and trembling, with good 
will doing service as unto the Lord, and 
not unto man, knowing that whatsoever 
good thing any man docth, the same shall 
he receive of the Lord, whether he be 
bond or free. And you masters do the 
same things unto them, forbearing threat- 
ening, knowing that your master also is in 
Heaven. Neither is there respect of per- 
sons with him, but he is merciful and kind, 
even to the unthankful and to the evil. 
Therefore be ye wise in this your day and 
generation, be ye holy in all your walk 
and conversation, and all you men and 
women, that desire to be one with the 
Friend, and obedient unto the Lord, keep 
yourselves separate, and unspotted from 
the world, and from each other ; and pos- 
sess your vessels in sanctification and 
honor, knowing that ye ought to be tem- 
ples for the Holy Spirit to dwell in ; and 
if your vessels are unclean, that which is 
holy cannot dwell in you, and ye are yet 
in a reprobate state and out of favor with 
God and his Holy One. 

" And think ye not to excuse yourselves 
for your disobedience, because, after the 
manner of a wicked world, ye have been 
joined together, according to the laws and 
fashions of men, for these are the inven- 
tions of the devil, and lead down to the 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 251 

bottomless pit, from whence they came; 
and thither shall all they go who yield 
themselves willingly to seduction, to de- 
part from the truth, the way and the life. 
Obey God, and not man, for vain is the 
help of man, yet God is able to save all 
those who obey his word. And know ye 
not that to whom ye yield yourselves ser- 
vants to obey, his servants ye are whom 
ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of 
obedience unto righteousness : — I speak 
after the manner of men, because of the 
infirmity of your flesh; for as ye have 
yielded your members servants to unclean- 
ness, and to iniquity unto iniquity, even 
so now yield your members servants to 
righteousness unto holiness. For when 
ye were the servants of sin ye were free 
from righteousness. What fruit had ye 
then in those things whereof ye are now 
ashamed, for the end of those things is 
death. Let not sin therefore reign in your 
mortal bodies, that ye should obey it in 
the lusts thereof; neither yield ye your 
members as instruments of unrighteous- 
ness unto sin ; but yield yourselves unto 
God, as those that are alive from the dead, 
and your members as instruments of right- 
eousness unto God. Be meek and humble, 
and strive not with the world, nor with 
one another, but be in peace all of you one 



252 MEMOIR OF 

with another always; seek not for the 
distinctions nor the honors of the wicked, 
nor strive for the mastery, nor think vainly 
of yourselves, nor attempt to lead others 
in Society or teach them, but with humil- 
ity listen to the counsel of the ' Universal 
Friend? and obey the voice of the Lord. 
And all of you who have been or may be 
so divinely favored as to be mouth to the 
Holy One, I entreat you in the bonds of 
love that when you are moved upon to 
speak in public as the oracles of God, that 
you speak as the Holy Spirit giveth utter- 
ance, not withholding more than is meet, 
which tendeth to poverty, neither add thou 
to his words lest he reprove thee, and thou 
be found a liar : but do all with a single 
eye to the glory of God, that God and the 
Lamb may be glorified by you and through 
you. For he that winneth souls is wise, 
and the wise shall shine as the brightness 
of the firmament ; and they that turn many 
to righteousness, as the stars for ever and 
ever. The time is fulfilled, the kingdom 
of God is at hand ; repent ye and believe 
the gospel, that the kingdom of God may 
begin within you. He hath showed thee, 
O man, what is good ; and what doth the 
Lord require of thee, but to do justly, 
love mercy, and walk humbly with thy 
God." 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 253 

The foregoing constituted the princi- 
pal ground work of all her preaching, and 
the substance of her discourses ; and by- 
being varied and repeated scores of times, 
and incorporated with such reflections as 
the particular occasion called for, together 
with the relation of three or four dreams 
and as many visions, generally made a 
sermon which occupied from two to three 
hours in the delivery. 

In her public discourses she seldom 
mentioned her prohibition of matrimony 
in positive terms ; but her allusions to this 
subject, on such occasions were distant 
and indirect, and couched in such general 
terms as to leave the auditor in doubt 
whether she intended it as a part of her 
system of religion. But in her private in- 
terviews with the faithful, and in her 
conversations with her visitors, she stren- 
uously insisted upon this point as one of 
the essentials in religion, which could not 
be dispensed with. She said that men 
were the authors of sin,* and the means of 
perpetuating it on the earth ; that the mis- 
eries to which mankind are subjected in 
this world, and the punishments which 

* To prove this she quoted Rom., 5th, 12 — " Where- 
fore as by one man sin entered into the world, and 
death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for 
that all have sinned." 



254 MEMOIR OF 

are reserved for the wicked in the next, 
are all to be charged to their account ; and 
that it would have been far better for the 
human race if they had been all females, 
and men had never been created ; that 
there was no necessity for their existence, 
and when sent into the world, they were 
always engaged in wrangles, strife and 
war, and that all the innumerable mur- 
ders which had been committed since the 
world began, were attributable to them. 
And when it was remarked to her that 
the existance and union of the two sexes 
constituted the appointed means for the 
perpetuation of the human species, she re- 
plied that a better method might have 
been devised, and alluded to the incarna- 
tion'of Jesus Christ "at his first appear- 
ance upon the earth," as a mode altogeth- 
er preferable to that which is now prac- 
ticed in the world. She said that should 
her doctrines in this respect prevail 
throughout the earth, the means would 
be provided for continuing a succession 
of the inhabitants thereof, as long as that 
should be necessary to the accomplish- 
ment of the great purposes for which man 
was created. 

The style of her epistolary writing was 
much the same with that of her preaching, 
consisting principally of quotations from 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 255 

scripture, irregularly strung together, 
without method or meaning, and having 
no direct application to the circumstances 
which were the pretended objects of her 
correspondence. We give a short extract 
of a letter dated "Stonington, 8th month, 
1787" — written by Jemima's chief scribe, 
and by her direction, to one of the prin- 
cipal members of the Society at Worces- 
ter, in Pennsylvania, which may serve as 
a pretty good sample of the manner of her 
letter writing. After a few words in rela- 
tion to some matter of business, the writer 
breaks out in the following strain : — 

* * "The greatest of all 

is the one thing needful, to make our cal- 
ling and election sure ; this I pray thee 
may not neglect ; he that holds out to the 
end the same shall be saved, saith the 
Lord ; keep in the valley of humiliation 
with a broken heart and melted spirit, 
such a sacrifice will not be despised ; thy 
gentleness hath made me great, and I hope 
D**** will prove it true by experience ; it 
is a day of trouble, but don't faint in the 
day of adversity and prove thyself to be 
small ; what I say to one I say to all 
friends ; watch and pray that ye enter not 
into temptation ; my spirit runs much to- 
wards all friends in Pennsylvania j I long 
to see you that ye may be strengthened by 



256 MEMOIR OF 

the mutual faith both of you and me, and 
built up in the most holy faith, that works 
by love and purifies the heart ; 1 feel much 
love to all friends among you, and desire 
thee to bear it to them for me. What I 
write is from the heart, it is real and not 
feigned. Only rebel not against the Lord, 
and we shall ever come through him. 
He knows in whose heart his divine love 
is, and who obey his counsel. Let every 
one see this as though it was directed to 
them. O, press forward all of you with 
the word of the Lord in your mouth, and 
a two edged sword in your right hand. 
Above all have fervent charity for one 
another ; in honor prefer one another ; let 
each esteem another better than himself, 
let the stronger bear the infirmities of the 
weaker, and not please themselves but 
each please his neighbor, to the good of 
edification ; and so run as to obtain ; let 
patience have her perfect work, that ye 
may be perfect, entire lacking nothing ; so 
prayeth your true friend. When 1 forget 
thee O Jerusalem, my right hand will for- 
get her cunning. I prefer the peace of 
Jerusalem above my chiefest joys; I 
charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, 
not to stir up, nor awake, or grieve away 
my beloved, until he pleases. Peace be. 
unto you, peace in believing, and • joy in, 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 257 

the Holy Ghost ; let this be your case 7 
that we may meet in that house not made 
with hands, eternal in the heavens, and 
be enfolded in the bosom of love and de- 
light, and reign with the Lamb forever 
and ever." 

It has been supposed by many persons 
who were well acquainted with Jemima 7 
that she was sincere in her professions 
and declarations in relation to herself and 
her religion, and that she believed she 
was actually commissioned by divine au - 
thorily to superintend the spiritual con- 
cerns of mankind, and to correct the er- 
rors of the present age. That being" led 
astray in early life, by a religious frenzy, 
and not having the benefit of proper ad- 
vice and instruction, while laboring under 
the first impressions of seriousness, she 
fell into, and settled down with, those er- 
rors and absurdities which characterised 
her ministry, and that in process of time 
she became confirmed in the belief of the 
truth of her doctrines, and the correctness 
of that course which she pursued during 
the residue of her life. 

Those who have adopted this opinion 
concerning Jemima, supposed it possible 
that by silently pursuing an irregular 
train of thought, on the subject of religion, 
unassisted by the light of experience, and 

W 



258 MEMOIR OF 

the instruction of wisdom, a young and ar- 
dent mind may become so bewilderad in 
the intricate mazes of doubt and difficulty, 
to which it is but too often exposed, as to 
produce an almost entire derangement of 
the reasoning faculties, in relation to that 
particular subject ; and finally become so 
far the victim of fanaticism and self delu- 
sion as to mistake the idle dreams of its 
own fancy and the wanderings of a dis- 
eased imagination, for heavenly inspira- 
tions and communications from the Al- 
mighty. 

They supposed, also, that this species of 
delusion may some times exist in those 
whose mental perceptions, upon every 
other subject excepting that of religion, 
are as clear and distinct as those of any 
other person. By this mode of reasoning 
they have persuaded themselves that Je- 
mima Wilkinson was an unfortunate fa- 
natic, who, being in the first place en- 
snared in the absurd system which she 
promulgated, afterwards became the inno- 
cent cause of deceiving others. And the 
many unaccountable circumstances and 
inconsistencies which marked her public 
career, the incoherent manner of her 
preaching and the style of her correspond- 
ence with her followers, and above all, 
her perseverance in the same system to 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 259 

the end of her life, seem almost to jus- 
tify this charitable conclusion. But 
those who knew enough of her private 
history to be able to judge of the motives 
which governed her conduct, entertained 
very different sentiments respecting her. 
In their opinion it is a violation of every 
rule of evidence b} 7 " which the truth is 
most likely to be discovered, to suppose 
that she did not know with as much cer- 
tainty as any other person, that she was 
simply Miss Jemima Wilkinson, and that 
she did not die and rise again from the 
dead in the year 1776. That she must 
have known, also, that she did not pos- 
sess the power of discovering the secret 
thoughts of others, nor of healing the sick, 
nor of raising the dead. Common sense 
instantly rejects the idea that she could 
ever have so far stupified herself as not to 
remember her origin and family, and that 
she was neither more nor less than a 
mere woman. These were points upon 
which she could not, by any posibility, 
make a mistake ; and yet it is a matter of 
public notoriety in the neighborhood of 
her residence in the state of Rhode Island, 
in Pennsylvania and in Ontario County, 
that she denied her family, her name, and 
her kindred, and laid claim to attributes, 
power and authority which appertain to 



260 MEMOIR OF 

no human being. Here arises the great 
difficulty in reconciling the extravagant 
accounts which she, and others by her di- 
rection, have, at various times and on di- 
vers occasions, given concerning her char- 
acter and person ; with the idea of her 
having been an unfortunate enthusiast 
who was deluded in her belief that the 
part she acted was a conscientious dis- 
charge of her duty to mankind. 

And yet strange and unaccountable as 
it may appear, she persevered in her pre- 
tensions to the end of her life, as will 
appear from a perusal of her Will, 
wherein she describes herself as having 
been callld Jemima Wilkinson, in the 
year 1776, "and ever since that time 
the Universal Friend, a new name which 
the mouth of the Lord hath namedP 
Her care and anxiety respecting her prop- 
erty also, ended only with her days. Her 
relations and connections are numerous, 
some af whom stand in much need of that 
assistance which a participation in her 
bounty might have afforded ; but none of 
them are mentioned, or even alluded to, 
in her Will. Indeed, it was not in the 
power of Jemima to make any provision 
for them without virtually acknowledg- 
ing her kindred, and thereby undermin- 
ing the base upon which she had reared 
the fabric of her religion. 



JEMIMA WILKINSON. 261 

Jemima was engaged in what she term- 
ed her " ministry," from the close of the 
year 1776, until July, 1819, when she 
closed her earthly career, at the advanced 
age of 68 years. 

In contemplating the career of this ex- 
traordinary personage, there is in the 
minds of many, some difficulty in deter- 
mining her true character. Her life, con- 
duct and professions present a chapter of 
contradictions, and a series of gross ab- 
surdities. Her followers believe her to be 
their savior; many charitable disposed 
persons are of the opinion that she labor- 
ed under a partial mental derangement, 
and was herself the victim of an unfor- 
tunate delusion by which she was deceiv- 
ed into the belief, that she was constituted, 
by divine appointment, a special messen- 
ger of grace and mercy to a lost and dying 
world ; others there are, and by far the 
greater number of those that knew her, 
who believed her to have been a canting 
hypocrite, pretending to a character which 
she knew she did not possess, and that 
the principal object of all her labors was 
to secure the means of gratifying her own 
appetites. The first supposition cannot 
be true ; the second is possible, and the 
last probable. But it is the business of 
History to record facts, and the privilege 
of the reader to draw his own conclusion. 



262 MEMOIR OF, &C. 

There are sundry publications, respect- 
ing Jemima Wilkinson, which made their 
appearance in different places and at va- 
rious periods during her life, and one or 
two since her death, which, as they show 
what opinions were entertained concern- 
ing her by different writers, it has been 
thought advisable to republish them in 
an Appendix to her History. 

No. I, — Is contained in Hannah Ad- 
ams' " View of Religions" published in 
1801. 

No. II, — Is extracted from " Marshall's 
Catechism? published in 1802. 

No. Ill, — Is from a work entitled " Ec- 
centric Biography, or Memoirs of re- 
markable Female characters, ancient and 
modern" published in 1804. 

No. IV, — Is from a series of " Origin- 
al Letters from the interior of the State 
of New York" and made its appearance 
in the « Balance and State Journal" of 
March, 1811. 

No. V, — Contains two communications, 
which appeared in the "Pittsburgh Mer* 
cury" in 1819, a short time after the 
death of Jemima. 

No. VI— Is « The last Will and Tes- 
tament of the person called the Universal 
Friend" 



APPENDIX. 

NO. l. 

" There were also a few persons in 
Rhode Island who adhered to Jemima 
"Wilkinson, who was born in Cumberland. 
It is said by those who were intimately 
acquainted with her, that she asserted, 
that in October, 1776, she was taken sick, 
and actually died, and her soul went to 
Heaven where it still continues. Soon af- 
ter, her body was reanimated with the 
spirit and power of Christ, upon which 
she set up as a public teacher ; and de- 
clared she had an immediate revelation 
for all she delivered, and was arrived to a 
state of absolute perfection. It is also 
said, she pretended to foretel future e- 
vents, to discern the secrets of the heart, 
and to have the power of healing diseases : 
and if any person, who had made applica- 
tion to her, was not healed, she attributed 
it to his want of faith. She asserted that 
those who refused to believe these exalted 
things concerning her, will be in the state 
of the unbelieving Jews, who rejected the 
counsel of God against themselves ; and 
she told her hearers, that was the eleventh 
hour, and that the last call of mercy that 
ever should be granted them; for she 



264 APPENDIX. 

heard an inquiry in Heaven, saying, "Who 
will go and preach to a dying world?" or 
words to that import: and she said she 
answered, " Here am I, send me ;" and that 
she left the realms of light and glory, and 
the company of the Heavenly host, who 
are continually praising and worshiping 
God, in order to descend upon earth, and 
pass through many sufferings and trials 
for the happiness of mankind. She as- 
sumed the title of the Universal Friend of 
Mankind ; hence her followers distin- 
guished themselves by the name of 
Friends.* 

" Jemima Wilkinson went to Geneva r 
in the Genesee country j and her follow- 
ers have fallen off so as not to keep up any 
meetings in this State." 



NO. II. 

"Universal Friend, is the title assumed 
by Jemima Wilkinson, who was born in 

* The Duke of Rochefoucault, in his travels in the 
United States of America, in 1796 and 1797, met with 
Jemima Wilkinson, in the State of New York. He 
describes her to be a beautiful but artful woman. She 
however, experienced a very unfavorable reception for 
herself and her doctrines, both in Philadelphia and 
New York ; though in the latter country she raade> 
some converts .. 



APPENDIX. 265 

Rhode Island. She says, that in the yea* 
1776, being sixteen years of age, she died, 
and when about to be buried, she was a* 
gain quickened by a power from above, 
but not by her own soul, which, she says, 
is yet in Heaven. She says she then receiv- 
ed a commission to preach. She tells her 
hearers that this is the eleventh hour, the 
last call of mercy; and that those who 
will uot believe the exalted things she 
says of herself will be in the state of the 
unbelieving Jews, who neglected the coun- 
sel of God against themselves. She pre- 
tends to immediate revelation of all which 
she delivers j and that she has arrived at 
a state of absolute perfection. 

" When she left her situation above Ger- 
mantown, near Philadelpaia, where she 
resided' for some years, she emigrated 
to Genesee, in the State of New York. 
Here she gave out that she was the ivoman 
to whom jw ere given tivo xoings of a great 
Eagle, that she might flee into the wilder- 
ness into her place.* She pretends to 
heal diseases in a miraculous manner; 
and when persons are not cured, she as- 
cribes it to their want of faith. She has 
a Society formed in Genesee, who be- 
lieve in her divine mission ; and whon\ 

* Rev. xn, 14. 

x 



266 APPENDIX. 



she has taught to observe both the Jewish 
and Christian Sabbaths. Agreeable to 
her blasphemous pretentions, she has her 
linens marked with the letters I. H. S. (/e- 
sits Hominum Salvator") 



NO. III. 

"Jemima Wilkinson, a Quaker, and a 
native of Rhode Island, who manifested 
so fervent zeal in her religion, that at the 
age of twenty she was admitted to all the 
meetings of the Society, which were held 
weekly^ monthly, and quarterly, for set- 
tling the general concerns and watching 
over the conduct of the brethren. She at 
length fancied that she was called to act 
some good and extraordinary part and in 
this persuasion, formed the project of be- 
coming the leader of a sect. In the course 
of a long and dangerous illness, she was 
suddenly seized with a lethargy, so that 
to her friends she appeared as really dead. 
She continued several hours in this situa- 
tion ; and preparations were actually ma- 
king for her interment, when she sudden- 
ly started up, and called for her clothes, 
declaring "that she had risen from the 
dead, and that she had cast off all her ma- 



APPENDIX. 267 

terial substance, and retained only the 
spiritual." She went accordingly to the 
next meeting, and as if with the authori- 
ty of some celestial being, spoke there as 
one inspired, and gained some followers. 
She goon made some proselytes, and at 
the same time drew upon herself the dis- 
pleasure of all who adhered to the old 
forms of the religion of the Quakers. She 
experienced, therefore a very unfavorable 
reception for herself and doctrines, both 
in Philadelphia and New York. Wher- 
ever she came every Quaker turned away 
from her with abhorrence, as the enemy 
of his religion j and all other persons 
deemed her a fool or an enthusiast. This 
disposition of the public she again called 
a persecution, it being favorable to her ul- 
timate views. The number of her follow- 
ers was now daily increasing ; and as she 
confidently trusted that it would become 
still more considerable, she thought they 
might perhaps be willing to follow her. 
Accordingly, she proposed to a number of 
them to flee from these regions of intoler- 
ance, and to settle in a place where they 
might worship God undisturbed, and free 
from that bitter spirit of persecution which 
men had introduced in opposition to the 
divine will. Soon after, the country about 
Lake Seneca and Crooked Lake, was fix- 



268 APPENDIX. 

ed upon as the place for their settlement. 
The company of New York which had 
purchased this land from the Indians, en- 
tered into a treaty for the sale of it with 
these reformed Quakers. They were 
promised three tracts of land, containing 
each six thousand square acres, and 
which were to form three districts, and to 
which Jemima instantly gave the name of 
Jerusalem. Thirty families removed 
hither with her ; but she had confidently 
expected three or four hundred more, of 
whom, however, not above twenty at last 
arrived. This Society soon spread over 
the three districts, which it was to occu- 
py ; but it was not sufficiently numerous 
to replenish the fourth part of each. The 
enchantment however, had already been 
broken by Jemima's absence, and with it 
had also vanished their zeal for peopling 
the new land of promise. 

" We saw Jemima, (says the Duke de la 
Rochefoucault Laincourt) and attended 
her meeting, which is held in her own 
house. We found there about thirty per- 
sons, men, women and children. Jemima 
stood at the door of her bed chamber, on 
a carpet with an arm chair behind her. 
She had on a white morning gown and 
waistcoat, such as men wear, and a petti- 
coat of the same color. Her black hair 



APPENDIX. 269 

was cut short, carefully combed, and di- 
vided behind into three ringlets ; she wore 
a stock and white silk cravat, which was 
tied about her neck with affected negli- 
gence. In point of delivery, she preached 
with more ease than any other Quaker I 
have yet heard; but the subject matter of 
her discourse was an eternal repetition of 
the same topics — death, sin and repent- 
ance. She is said to be about forty years 
of age, but she did not appear to be more 
than thirty. She is of a middle stature, 
well made, of a florid countenance, and 
has fine teeth, and beautiful eyes. Her 
action is studied ; she aims at simplicity, 
but there is somewhat pedantic in her 
manner. In her chamber we found her 
friend, Rachel Miller, a young woman a- 
hout twenty eight or thirty years of age, 
her follower and admirer, who is entirely 
devoted to her. All the land which Je- 
mima possesses is purchased in the name 
of Rachel Miller, an advantage she owes 
to her influence over her adherents, and 
to her dexterity in captivating their affec- 
tions. Jemima, or the Friend, as she is 
called by way of eminence, inculcates, as 
her leading tenet, poverty and resignation 
of all earthly possessions. If you talk to 
her of her house, she always calls it "the 
house which I inhabit." This house 



270 APPENDIX. 

however, though built only of the trunks 
of trees, is extremely pretty and commodi- 
ous. Her room is exquisitely neat, and 
resembles more the boudoir of a fine lady, 
than the cell of a nun. It contains a look- 
ing glass, a clock, and an arm chair, a 
good bed, a warming pan, and a silver 
saucer. Her garden is kept in good or- 
der; her spring house is full of milk, 
cheese, butter, butcher's meat and game. 
Her hypocrisy may be traced in all her 
discourses, actions and conduct, and even 
in the very manner in which she manages 
her countenance. She seldom speaks 
without quoting the Bible, or introducing 
a serious sentance about death, and the ne- 
cessity of making our peace with God. 
Whatever does not belong to her own 
sect, is with her an object of distaste and 
steadfast aversion. She sows dissentions 
in families, to deprive the lawful heir of 
his right of inheritance, in order to appro- 
priate it to herself; and all this she does 
under the name and agency of her com- 
panion, who receives all presents brought 
by the faithful, and preserves them for 
her reverend friend, who, being wholly 
absorbed in her communion with Christ, 
whose prophetess she is, would absolutely 
forget the supply of her bodily wants, if 
she were not well taken care of. The 



APPENDIX. 271 

number of her votaries has, of late, much 
decreased. Many of the families who 
followed her to Jerusalem, are no longer 
the dupes of her self interested policy. 
Some still keep up the outward appear- 
ance of attachment to her ; while others 
have openly disclaimed their connection 
with Jemima. Such however, as still 
continue her adherents, appear to be en- 
tirely devoted to her. With these she 
passes for a prophetess, an indescribable 
being* ; she is not Jemima Wilkinson, but 
a spirit of a peculiar name, which remains 
a profound secret to all r who are not true 
believers : she is the friend, the all friend. 
Six or seven girls of different ages, but all 
young and handsome, wait upon her with 
surprising emulation, to enjoy the pecu- 
liar satisfaction of being permitted to ap- 
proach this celestial being. Her fields 
and her garden are plowed and dug by 
the Friends, who neglect their own bu- 
siness to take care of hers ; and the All- 
Friend is so codescending, as not to re- 
fuse their services ; she comforts them 
with a: kind word now and then, makes, 
enquiries after, and provides for their 
health and welfare, and has the art of ef- 
fectually captivating their affections, the 
more, perhaps, because she knows how to 
keep her votaries at a respectful distance* 



272 APPENDIX. 

When the service was over, Jemima in- 
vited us to dinner. The hope of watch- 
ing her more narrowly, induced us to ac- 
cept the invitation ; but we did not then 
know, that it forms a part of the -character 
she acts, never to eat with any one. She 
soon left us ; and locking herself up with 
her female friend, sat down without other 
company, to an excellent dinner ; we did 
not get ours till after she had dined. 
When our dinner was over, and also an- 
other, which was served up after ours, the 
sanctuary was opened again. And now 
Jemima appeared once more at the door 
of her room, and conversed with us seat- 
ed in an arm chair. When strangers are 
with her, she never comes over the 
threshold of her bed room ; and when by 
herself, she is constantly engaged in de- 
liberation how to improve the demesne of 
her friend. The house was, this day, 
very full. Our company consisted of ex- 
actly ten persons ; after us dined another 
company of the same number ; and as 
many more dined in the kitchen. Our 
plates, as well as the table linen, were 
perfectly clean and neat; our repast, al- 
though frugal, was yet better in quality 
than any of which we hadpartaken since 
we had left Philadelphia; it consisted of 
good fresh meat, with pudding, an excel- 



APPENDIX. 273 

lent sallad, and a beverage of peculiar, yet 
charming flavor, with which we were 
plentifully supplied out of Jemima's apart- 
ment, where it was prepared. The de- 
vout guests observed, all this while, a pro- 
found silence ; they either cast down their 
eyes, or lifted them up to heaven with a 
rapturous sigh ; to me they appeared not 
unlike a party of the faithful, in the prim- 
itive ages, dining in a church. The All- 
Friend, had by this time exchanged her 
former dress, for that of a fine Indian 
lady, which however, was cut out in the 
same fashion as the former. Her hair 
and eyebrows had again been combed. 
She did not utter a syllable respecting 
our dinner ; nor did she offer to make any 
apology for her absence. Constantly en- 
gaged in personating the part she had as- 
sumed, she descanted in a sanctimonious, 
mystic tone, on death, and on the happi- 
ness of having been an useful instrument 
to others in the way of their salvation. 
She afterwards gave us a rhapsody of pro- 
phecies to read, ascribed to one Dr. Love, 
who was beheaded in Cromwell's time ; 
wherein she clearly discerned, according 
to her accounts, the French Revolution, 
the decline and downfall of popery, and 
the impending end of the world. Find- 
| ing, however, that this conversation was 



274 APPENDIX. 

but ill adapted to engage our attention, 
she cut short her harangue at once. 

" We had indeed, already seen more than 
enough to estimate the character of this 
bad actress, whose pretended sanctity on- 
ly inspired us with contempt and disgust, 
and who is altogether incapable of impos- 
ing upon any person of common under- 
standing, unless those of the most simple 
minds, or downright enthusiasts. Her 
speeches are so strongly contradicted by 
the tenor of her actions ; her whole con- 
duct ; her expense compared to that of 
other families within a cireumferance of 
fifty miles ; her way of living, and her 
dress, form such a striking contrast with 
her harangues on the subject of condem- 
ning earthly enjoyments ; and the extreme 
assiduity with which she is continually 
endeavoring to, induce children, over 
whom she has any influence, to Jeave 
their parents, and form a part of her com- 
munity ; all those particulars so strongly 
militate against the doctrine of peace and 
universal love, which she is incessantly 
preaching, that we were all actually struck 
with abhorrence at her duplicity and hy- 
pocrisy, as soon as the first emotions of 
our curiosity subsided. Her fraudulent 
conduct, indeed, has been discovered by 
so many persons, and, so muQh h^s been. 



APPENDIX. 275 

said against it, that it is difficult to account 
for her having any adherents at all, even 
for a short time. And yet she will proba- 
bly retain a sufficient number, to increase 
still further a fortune, which is already 
considerable for the country in which she 
resides, and fully adequate to the only 
end which she now seems anxious to at- 
tain — namely, to live independent, in a 
decent, plentiful, and even elegant man- 
ner. There are so many weak minded 
religionists, and Jemima is so particular- 
ly careful to select her disciples among 
persons who are either very old or very 
young, that her imposture, however gross 
and palpable to the discerning, may yet 
be carried on for some time with success, 
sufficient to answer her ultimate purpose. 
If her credit should sink too low, she 
would find herself constrained to trans- 
plant her holiness to some other region ; 
and in fact, she had last year, harbored 
the design of removing her family and es- 
tablishment, and of settling on Carlton 
Island, in the Lake of Ontario, where she 
would enjoy the satisfaction of living un- 
der the English Government, which by 
her account, has offered feer a grant of 
land. 



V 

276 APPENDIX. 

NO. IV. 

"At a Coach maker's in Uanandaigua, 
I saw a Coach finishing for Jemima, the 
Universal Friend, as she calls herself; 
which one of her avant-couriers or follow- 
ers-after, was waiting to transport to 
Crooked Lake, the seat of her abomina- 
tions. On each side pannel was a star, 
and on the rear of the carriage a cross of 
six or eight inches, surmounted by a star, 
with the letters U. F. on each side of the 
cross. I saw this woman many years 
since ; she was then young and hand- 
some, she is neither now, She pretended 
and yet pretends, to be more than mortal. 
Jemima Wilkinson, she says, was dead 
and buried; and to her followers she 
whispers, that she arose from the dead, 
the Savior of the world ! It was a doubt- 
ful point, some few months past, whether 
she would not be indicted for blasphemy ; 
but the Grand Jury not having sufficient 
proof, dismissed the bill. Finding that 
she made few proselytes in the large cit- 
ies, she retired into this part of the coun- 
try, and with her own, and the funds of 
her followers, purchased of the state about 
1800 acres of land, to which she gave the 
name of Jerusalem. She is iguorant, but 
artful; speaks sententiously, interlards her 
discourse, aptly and inaptly, with script- 



AFPB3DIX. 277 

ure, and is seen only at stated periods by 
the world, as she terms all but he follow- 
ers. 

"They tell a pleasant story of Jemima : 
A little girl, who had reported that one of 
her followers had come into the window 
in the night, was called to account by the 
saint, who told her that it was an angel, 
she had seen come in at the windiw ; the 
child answered, that she believed it was 
an angel, but his coat had on it just such 
buttons as Mr. — wore. 

"Her tribe amounts to about seventy 
old men, old women, and young children, 
and except she divides the property, the 
greatest share of which she has contrived 
to possess herself, will not increase." 



NO. V. 

"JEMIMA WILKINSON. 

"This consummate and successful im- 
postor, upon her visiting the city of Phila- 
delphia, resided during her stay in that 
city, at the house of my father. The 
novelty of such a character attracted gen- 
eral notice. Our family became incom- 
moded by the numerous visitors that were 
desirous of communicating with her on 
(he important subject of religion. Her 



278 APPENDIX. 

popularity as a preacheress, has never 
been surpassed. The Methodist Episco- 
pal St. George's Church was by the trus- 
tees granted her, in which her oratory 
was displayed, to the wonder and aston- 
ishment of thousands who attended her 
ministrations. She was masculine by ar- 
ticulation and appearance. Her jet black 
hair, which she always kept moist, by fre- 
quent washing, which made it assume a 
glossy appearance, with black eyes and 
fair complexion, gave her an interesting 
appearance. She possesses a commanding 
and audible voice. 

" Upon any occasion when she walked 
out, the crowd that attended her person 
became so great that it was inconvenient 
for her to be seen in public. After this 
discovery she would not be seen walking. 
When she paid a visit, or attended divine 
service, her followers had her conveyed 
in a carriage to her destined place. I 
remember perfectly well, that the street 
and pavements opposite my father's house, 
were without intermission crowded daily. 

" Our next door neighbor, Mrs. S. W. 
became one of her proselytes, and when 
Jemima took her departure from our city, 
this infatuated lady forsook her husband 
and children, and accompanied her, with 
a number of others, to her new settlement. 
This lady did not continue a long time 



APPENDIX. 279 

( 

absent from her family, before she return- 
ed in disgust against this impostor. The 
report which circulated respecting the 
circumstance of this lady's re-appearance, 
was, as near as 1 can recollect, as fol- 
lows : — 

"When her and her followers were 
seated in the chapel, and after a long si- 
lence, Jemima arose from her seat, and 
with an audible voice proclaimed — "Sa- 
rah !— Sarah ! ! — Sarah ! ! ! — I have a 
message from God unto thee, this night 
thy soul will be required of thee." She 
then sat down. Mrs. W. has been heard 
to say, that such a terror seized on her 
mind, and the rest of the auditors, as 
tongue could not describe. This was on 
account of their having implicit faith in 
her as a prophetess. This happened in 
the winter, and a remarkable providence 
was manifested in the preservation of Mrs. 
W.'s life, The house in which they resi- 
ded, being much crowded, Mrs. W. had 
for her bed companion, a white domestic, 
one of the sisterhood. When the appoint- 
ed time arrived for the members of this 
devoted family to retire, which was 9 o'- 
clock, Mrs. W. with a palpitating heart, 
went to her chamber, and occupied the 
front part of the bed. The girl, in conse- 
quence of having had a large washing on 
that day, did not retire that night, until 



280 APPKNMX. 

near 12 o'clock. Mrs. W. could not close 
her eyes in sleep, and awaited the time of 
her expected dissolution with an awful 
suspense; but judge her surprise, when 
about ten o'clock, her room door opened. 
Hearing this, she concluded her bed fel- 
low had finished her work, and was com- 
ing to take her rest, but to her astonish- 
ment, Jemima entered, dressed in white, 
with a veil over her head, holding a 
lighted candle in each hand, and passed 
close to her bed side, with a very slow 
pace, looked at Mrs. W., without uttering 
a word, after which she retired. 

" Mrs. W.'s mind was racked with ten 
thousand contending fears, and she could 
not close her eyes. She continued in 
this state until the hour of 11 o'clock ar- 
rived. Jemima re-appeared, after the 
same manner as before represented, pur- 
sued the same course as before, and re- 
tired without uttering a word. Mrs. W. 
could not fathom her mysterious conduct. 
At the approach of midnight, her appre- 
hensions became insupportable. It so 
happened, by the orders of an over ruling 
hand, that before the hour of 12 o'clock, 
the girl did retire, and in order to accom- 
modate her, Mrs. W. removed to the back 
part of the bed, and the girl took her warm 
place; and on account of her being much 
fatigued, she soon fell asleep. About the 



APPENDIX. 281 

dead hour of midnight, the door again 
opened. All was darkness ; and Mrs. W. 
could not perceive the object that entered, 
but she heard it approaching towards the 
bed, on a sudden the girl began to struggle 
for existence. Mrs. W. not knowing the 
cause, gave the alarm, and a person fled 
with precipitation from the room. Mrs. 
W. interrogated the girl respecting the 
cause. Her answer was, that some per- 
son had her by the throat, and was trying 
to strangle her. Here was at once a de- 
velopment of the character of this fiend, 
this monster of depravity. 

"From this circumstance it appears 
self-evident, that Jemima's first visits with 
the candles were to reconnoitre and ascer- 
tain the exact position of her intended 
victim ; that her prediction should be ver- 
ified; and by that means a confirmation 
of her possessing supernatural powers 
would be established in the minds of her 
credulous followers. But happily, her de- 
sign was frustrated by Mrs. W. leaving 
her first position ; and her murderous 
intention was defeated. Had Mrs. W. 
maintained the place she first occupied, 
her success would have been complete. 
On account of the fatigue of the girl, her 
sleep would have been so heavy, that she 
would be insensible to the struggles of 
Mrs. W. Consequently the morning light 



2i2 APPENDIX. 

would have proclaimed to her devotees, 
her knowledge of future events, and of 
her having a direct communication with 
Almighty God. Such was the credulity 
of her followers, that they viewed her as 
a second Christ. 

" After the public notoriety of the dia- 
bolical means she had resorted to for the 
further purpose of imposition, many anec- 
dotes got in circulation respecting her, 
which became the topic of general con- 
versation, and shall be the subject of an. 
other communication, as I conceive every 
particular that relates to this extraordinary 
and wonderful woman, must be interesting 
to the community." 

"To cap the climax of desperation, this 
wanton of folly had information exten- 
sively circulated that she would, on a 
particular day, manifest her power and 
divinity, by walking on a certain river. 
Curiosity was upon tiptoe, to witness such 
a phenomenon in nature. It is to be pre- 
sumed, that thousands from every quarter 
repaired to the appointed place. 

"Jemima appeared, attended by the 
brothers and sisterhood of the fraternity, 
and commenced the exercises by address- 
ing the multitude present, upon the im- 
portant subject of faith, and endeavored 
by argumentation to persuade her hearers 



APPENDIX. 283 

that if she did not perform her promise, it 
would be owing to their unbelief; and in 
order to exemplify and enforce conviction 
on their minds, she cited the case of Peter, 
and averred that he walked on the water, 
until he and his brethren's faith had de- 
parted from them ; then Peter began to 
sink, and in his extremity < Jesus stretched 
forth his hand, and said unto him, O thou 
of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt.' 
" After the conclusion of this harangue, 
Jemima approached the margin of the 
river, and lo ! as she trod the water, it 
would not obey the sovereign command, 
to uphold her unhallowed and ponderous 
weight ! After this experiment, she in- 
dignantly retreated upon the multitude, 
and reproved them as the cause, and as a 
verification of her prediction, declared in 
the language of our Lord — 'This is an 
evil generation ; they seek a sign, and 
there shall be no sign given it,, for as Jonas 
was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall 
Jemima be to this generation. The Queen 
of the South shall rise up in judgment 
with the men of this generation, and con- 
demn them ; for she came from the utter- 
most parts of the earth to hear the wisdom 
of Solomon ; and behold, a greater than 
Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh 
shall rise up in judgment with this gene- 
ration, and shall condemn it; for they 



284 APPENDIX. 

repented at the preaching of Jonas, and 
behold, a greater than Jonas is here.' 

" How the disappointed expectants suf- 
fered her to retire from this scene of ac- 
tion, I did not learn. Notwithstanding 
her repeated discomfitures, by endeavoring 
to perform an act calculated to convince 
the most credulous of her admirers of her 
Messiahship, still, like the staunch mur- 
derer, steady to her purpose, she was de- 
termined to made another effort of impo- 
sition. She and her immediate followers 
formed a conspiracy for deception, and 
pre-concerted a plan that promised suc- 
cess ; for she had no doubt of the ultima- 
tum, as the means to accomplish her pro- 
ject was within her own borders and 
under her control. 

" This Anti-Christ and her apostles 
agreed to circulate a report, that one of 
Jemima's apostles was severely indisposed. 
After this, his death was announced ; the 
day appointed for his funeral obsequies; 
and that Jemima, having lost her favorite 
and beloved apostle, would only suffer 
him to sleep four days in death, and after 
that raise him again. This account spread 
far distant, and the concourse which as- 
sembled to witness this solemn transaction 
was represented to be immense, Jemima 
and her family walked in procession to 
the grave. When they had arrived at the 



APPENDIX. 285 

place of interment, Jemima commenced 
their ritual ceremonies, by a short intro- 
ductory discourse upon death and the 
resurrection.; and she assured them, as it 
was in the days of her prototype, so it had 
continued from generation to generation. 
Calumny and detraction put ocular de- 
monstration and truth to defiance; and 
that a prophet was not without honor, 
save in his own country ; and concluded 
by promising to perform such a miracle 
in the presence of her God and his people, 
as would convince them of her divine 
mission. She spoke largely of the affec- 
tion she entertained towards the deceased ; 
denominating him a beloved apostle, but 
assuring them that he should rise again 
from death, in their presence. After con- 
cluding her sermon, she recited by rote 
(she was considered a perfect scriptorian) 
from the 1st verse of the 11th chapter of 
St. John's Gospel, until she came to the 
41st verse. Every spectator was big with 
expectation, to witness the issue, and Je- 
mima no less sanguine as to the result, 
and the establishment of a belief that she 
was more than mortal. 

" But unfortunately for this Jezebel, and 
artful woman, an officer happened to be 
present, witnessing this farce, and it ap- 
peared by his own declaration afterwards, 
that he was convinced from the whole 



286 APPENDIX. 

tenor of the exhibition, an imposition was 
intended, and would be practised, unless 
a proposition was made, which, if acted 
upon, would effectually prevent the sup- 
posed dead man from rising. Accordingly 
this wight, having more courage and dar- 
ing than any one present, just as Jemima 
had ended repeating the 40th verse, and 
was about offering up, with sacrilegious 
lips, the prayer that our blessed Lord 
offered previous to his commanding Laza- 
rus to come forth, commanded her to stop 
until he had run his sword through the 
coffin; and after that he would guarantee 
her beloved apostle would never rise 
again. The man in the coffin, having 
heard the conversation and determination 
of the officer, forced off the cover of th& 
coffin and walked out, to the no small 
terror of some, and the astonishment of 
all present ! 

"The chagrin of this undaunted cham- 
pion of a diabolical system bears no par- 
allel. Independent of that fatal develop- 
ment of her anti-christian spirit, her hard- 
ihood and effrontery upon this as well as 
all other occasions, has never been sur- 
passed. How she escaped the vengeance 
of an indignant and insulted public, I 
cannot fathom: but the presumption must 
be, that her being a female, and viewed as 
a fanatic, was her passport to protection*" 



APPENDIX. 287 



NO. VI. 



*'The last Will and Testament of the person called 
the Universal Friend, of Jerusalem, in the county 
of Ontario, and State of New York — who in the 
year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, 
was called Jemima Wilkinson, and ever since that 
time the Universal Friend, a new name which the 
mouth cf the Lord hath named. 

■• Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and 
being of sound mind and memory, blessed be the Lord 
of Sabaoth and Father of Mercies therefor — I do make 
and publish this my last Will and Testament — 

*« I. My Will is, that all my just debts be paid by 
by my Executors, hereafter named. 

•'II. I give, bequeath and devise unto Rachel Malin 
and Margaret Malin, now of said Jerusalem, all my 
earthly property, both real and personal : that is to 
say, all my land lying in said Jerusalem and in Benton, 
or elsewhere in the county of Ontario, together with 
all the buildings thereon, to them, the said Rachel and 
Margaret, and their heirs and assigns forever, to be 
equally and amicably shared between them the said 
Rachel and Margaret. And I do also give and be- 
queath to the said Rachel and Margaret Malin, all my 
wearing apparel, all my household furniture, and all 
my horses, cattle, sheep and swine, of every kind and 
description, and also all my carriages, wagons, and 
carts, of every kind, together with all my farming tools 
and utensils, and all my movable property, of every 
nature and description whatever. 

" III. My Will is, that all the present members of 
my family, and each of them, be employed, if they 
please, and if employed, supported during natural life, 
by the said Rachel and Margaret, and when any of 
them become unable to help themselves, they are ac- 
cording to such inability, kindly to be taken care of by 
the said Rachel and Margaret. And my Will also is, 
that all poor persons belonging to the Society of Uni. 



168 APPENDIX. 

venal Friends, shall receive from the said Rachel and 
Margaret such assistance, comfort and support during 
natural life as they need — and in case any, either of 
my family, or elsewhere in the Society, shall turn 
away, such shall forfeit the provisions herein made for 
them. 

•* IV. I hereby ordain and appoint the above named 
Rachel Malin and Margaret Malin Executors of this 
my last Will and Testament — in witness whereof, I, 
the pei son once called Jemima Wilkinson, but in and 
ever since the year 1777, known as and called the 
Public Universal Friend, hereunto set my name and 
seal, the twenty.fifth day of the second month, in the 
year of the Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen. 
THE PUBLIC UNIVERSAL FRIEND, [l.s 

IN PRESENCE OF &C. AC. 

" Be it remembered, That in order to remove ail 
doubts of the due execution of the foregoing Will and 
Testament, being the person who before the year one 
thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven was known 
and called by the name of Jemima Wilkinson, but 
since that time as the Universal Friend, do make, pub. 
lish and declare the within instrument as my last Will 
and Testament — as witness my Hand and Seal, this 
seventeenth day of the seventh month, (July) in the 
year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 
her 
JEMIMA-I-WILKINSON. [l.s.] 

CROSS Of MARK. 

OR UNIVERSAL FRIEND." 

WITNESSES, &C, 



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